the pomodoro technique ... or simply just getting more stuff done

i've already shared with you my love of lists.  my day would be chaos without my to do and make lists to keep me on track. 

but as business gets brisker (hurrah!), my lists get longer and longer. 

earlier this week, with the days to do list running to two pages, i decided it was time i found a way to squeeze a little more out of my day.  so i had a little scoot around the internet looking for tools and techniques that could help.

and came across the simple yet brilliant pomodoro technique*.  and all you need to make it work is a timer, a piece of paper, a list of tasks and time.

the basics are really simple.  you take your to do list, choose a task, then set the timer for 25 minutes.  work solidly without distraction (no twitter, no email checking!) on that one task for 25 minutes.  then stop and take a short break and then start again - either on a new task or back to the one you were working on previously.

i've been trying out the technique during the baby bird's daytime naps (2 year olds just won't work around a timer) and i've got so much more done.  it really has helped me to focus and i'm definitely less easily distracted. 

it's a technique that has apparently been around since the 80s so it's probably not new to you, but it is to me and i'm loving it.

happy friday!

*named after those cute tomato shaped kitchen timers (great excuse to use a lovely bright sunny picture on yet another grey and grizzly day)