18 March 2024

Aware of being an Olympic champion level procrastinator, I have learnt to use this tendency to best effect. I also need strategies. One that works well for me in clearing a backlog of things is “five minutes every hour”. This means setting aside five minutes at a specific time each hour to chip away at what looks like an insurmountable load. Another is the Pomodoro technique. This was developed in the 1980’s by Francesco Cirillo. Pomodoro is the Italian word for tomato and it is so named because when he was at university, Francesco used a tomato shaped kitchen timer to help him achieve his objectives. The first thing to do is define the task. Then set the timer, typically for 25 minutes. Work on the task for 25 minutes – this is one pomodoro – then take a break, usually for five to 10 minutes. Repeat 25 minutes of work and the breaks until you have done four Pomodoros then take a longer break, typically 20 – 30 minutes. Repeat until the task is complete. One reason this works for me is that the idea is compatible with a renowned theory by performance psychologist, Dr Jim Loehr, who talks about managing our energy, rather than time. We can read in ‘The Power of Full Engagement: The Four Energy Management Principles That Drive Performance’  that a series of sprints is the way to live with most productivity and enjoyment. How often do we work as though we are competing in a permanent marathon, become exhausted and still do not unplug and recharge. We must remember that we are human, not robots. https://www.jim-loehr.com