Are you a victim of procrastination?
Do you frequently give in to self-interruptions, even though you try hard to resist them?
Do you fall prey to distractions during your work schedules, and you know you are not focusing on the job at hand?
The best time management technique – the Pomodoro method
So how many times has it happened? Picture this scenario. You are right in the middle of your work, pushing towards your daily cash-generating activities when a ping on your phone catches your attention. You turn to it, thinking to yourself, “this won’t take long – the client must have replied”. But it is actually a Facebook post, you click on it and, BAM! You get sucked into the virtual world for a full 30 minutes. By the time you return to your work, you have lost a full half-hour of productive time, and wasted a phase of the day in which much could have been accomplished. Do not worry. You are not alone. And there is a way to deal with this, with a simple time-management technique that I shall share with you today, a priceless Nef nugget ACT that will motivate you to move!
The Pomodoro method. One of the most respected and widely used productivity techniques in the world today this method was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s’. The goal of this method is to reduce distractions and increase focus.
One of the first ways I work with my clients is in time management. An important technique that I use is the Pomodoro method, helping them to define how they can incorporate that into the business schedule that they have for cash generating activities.
Let me tell you how this works.
1. Select a task on your business To Do list.
I always emphasize this – as a business owner, when you are wearing all the hats at work and in charge, always concentrate on your clients, and importantly, cash – generating activities. These are the first things that you should be paying attention to. Right?
2. Set a timer for 25 minutes.
It could be through an app, your computer, or a simple timer on your phone. As for me, I prefer the old-school kitchen timer! I love the little noise it keeps making while I work – the constant tick ticking, as I work my way towards beating ol’Father Time!
3. Now do your thing!
Continue to focus on your work, till the timer rings. When it does, give yourself a reward in the form of a 5-minute break. Take a stretch, drink a glass of water, or you could even go back to your notifications or take a peek at your text messages!
4. Count your progress
How many follow-up emails with clients can you finish, before the timer ends?
How many emails can you go through, before the timer rings?
How many podcasts can you pitch, before the timer ticks?
Now, what you should do is repeat the above steps 3 to 4 times more. A work round for 25 minutes, then a 5-minute break. At the end of the 4th break, give yourself a longer, 15-minute break. During this break go grab a snack, or get out for some fresh air (especially if you are working from home). Whatever it is that you do to reward yourself, it is important to stay focused and productive during the times that you work, and make use of the breaks to get back your energies and do away with that burnout. There’s no point in working for hours at a time and not looking up from your computer, is there? The Pomodoro method makes use of a healthy balance between work and rest, so make use of this technique to elevate your productivity and up your game!
I’d love to know how the Pomodoro technique worked for you! Do you use the traditional kitchen timer or the one on your phone? What have you been able to get done? How many clients did you follow up with; how many podcasts did you pitch? Did you secure a seat at my next Networking with Nef event? Here is the link.
I hope you were able to do a lot more for your business, using the Pomodoro method. I’m sure it will help. For if you stand clear on what it is you are going to work on you will be a lot more confident and will be able to run your business with a well-defined strategy. Focus on your clients, and focus on client/cash-generating activities.
And whenever you are ready to invest in yourself and be coached, schedule a free discovery session by contacting me by using this link.
Till next time, stay profitable. Stay blessed!
