The easiest way to play is to track and beat your own personal bests:
- Decide on what to do
- Set a timer for 25 minutes
- Work on the task until alarm goes off
- Take a break (3-5 minutes)
- After the every fourth repetition, take a longer break (15–30 minutes)
At the end of the day, make a note of what you accomplished. Personally, I found myself consistently improving on the inefficiencies just by knowing how much I can accomplish in each 25 minute block. Estimating task time is easier and I am getting things done faster… all I’m really doing is trying to beat the clock, and it feels so good to win! In a 9 hour work day, I could potentially win the game 16 times! If I fail, I can easily evaluate that 25-minute block to increase my likelihood of success on the next task.
I will be writing more about the time management techniques I use during the day, but I couldn’t hold in the excitement! If you want to know more about what I am doing specifically, read up on this Wikipedia article…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique
This is just one of many ways others have used little tricks to manage their time more effectively! Do you have a technique that works well for you? Share it with the rest of us by posting it in the comments below!
p.s.
One of my next articles will be a review of the task management tools I have reviewed, so be sure to follow this blog to learn more about how you can turn work into a game!
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