This is a great tip, thanks for sharing! And the views of the sea...fantastic! I am a chronic to-do list maker and I use Asana to help me keep track of the different tasks associated with different projects. I can color code them and move them around if I don't accomplish them within a certain day, it's easy to drag and drop them into the next day or re-schedule. As a visual person, it's helpful to see if some days are overloaded with tasks so I can spread them out through the week more evenly. I even made a project for "personal" and "creativity and play" so if those colors are missing too much in my week, I know I need to back off my work tasks and create some breathing room in order to have a more work/life balance.
Hi Mariah--This sounds wonderful! I wish the pomodoro app was a bit more visual that way. But there is a place to put tasks for the whole week and assign them due dates. So far, though, I’ve been using Sarah Fay’s goal planner.
I teach the pomodoro method to students often. I once actually had a student from Italy, who was startled and amused when she heard me say that we were going to try the tomato method of time management :)
Thank you for all of this! Last year, my intention was "Clearing space and claiming time." I cleared a lot of both, including deciding to stop working on a book project that I'd devoted quite a bit of time, research, and emotional energy to. This year, I've decided to focus on "Creation and Connection," meaning both of those in various ways (including writing).
This semester, while I am expected to be on campus four days a week, I finally am able to use the course release that I'm supposed to have with my admin position, and the three classes that I'm teaching (two preps, both of which I've taught before) are online. This means that I have the opportunity to really block out my work time how I want--and I'm feeling a bit daunted by the opportunity! Starting with pomodoros is a great idea. I look forward to learning from you and the others here.
You have a lot on your plate, Monica! I do hope the pomodoros help you manage your time. And I love your focus on "Creation and Connection"! So important to me as well. Good luck with your new schedule, and let me know if you find the pomodoros helpful. :)
I’m proud of you for saying you had a toxic work environment. And you were the star of the department! I wish that had protected you, but I was amazed at the level of dysfunction. It was worse than the paper!
Thank you for all of your great tips. You have picked a perfect spot to write! 💞
Aww, thank you, Louann! It really was a mess. And I feel so bad for those friends left behind. If you make it over to Scotland you definitely have to let me know!
I'm so happy to hear that you've been able to settle in Edinburgh again! And your views: wow! The pomodoro app was recommended to me by another writer so I'm going to give it a go--now. Thank you for sharing your productivity insights.
Great! Let me know what you think of it and how you use it. I just discovered the white noise options, which look intriguing--like cafe, frogs at night, and ocean.
Well, success! I completed two, 30-minute pomodoros and, guess what, I finally finished a short story that I've been 90% finished for the past two years. And it wasn't hard at all. The other thing that helped was that I made myself leave my house--not easy to do in Boston in the winter--and went to the library in a nearby town to work on my story.
On to pomodoro #3: at this rate, I may actually be able to submit my story before the end of 2024!
This is a great tip, thanks for sharing! And the views of the sea...fantastic! I am a chronic to-do list maker and I use Asana to help me keep track of the different tasks associated with different projects. I can color code them and move them around if I don't accomplish them within a certain day, it's easy to drag and drop them into the next day or re-schedule. As a visual person, it's helpful to see if some days are overloaded with tasks so I can spread them out through the week more evenly. I even made a project for "personal" and "creativity and play" so if those colors are missing too much in my week, I know I need to back off my work tasks and create some breathing room in order to have a more work/life balance.
Hi Mariah--This sounds wonderful! I wish the pomodoro app was a bit more visual that way. But there is a place to put tasks for the whole week and assign them due dates. So far, though, I’ve been using Sarah Fay’s goal planner.
I teach the pomodoro method to students often. I once actually had a student from Italy, who was startled and amused when she heard me say that we were going to try the tomato method of time management :)
Thank you for all of this! Last year, my intention was "Clearing space and claiming time." I cleared a lot of both, including deciding to stop working on a book project that I'd devoted quite a bit of time, research, and emotional energy to. This year, I've decided to focus on "Creation and Connection," meaning both of those in various ways (including writing).
This semester, while I am expected to be on campus four days a week, I finally am able to use the course release that I'm supposed to have with my admin position, and the three classes that I'm teaching (two preps, both of which I've taught before) are online. This means that I have the opportunity to really block out my work time how I want--and I'm feeling a bit daunted by the opportunity! Starting with pomodoros is a great idea. I look forward to learning from you and the others here.
You have a lot on your plate, Monica! I do hope the pomodoros help you manage your time. And I love your focus on "Creation and Connection"! So important to me as well. Good luck with your new schedule, and let me know if you find the pomodoros helpful. :)
I’m proud of you for saying you had a toxic work environment. And you were the star of the department! I wish that had protected you, but I was amazed at the level of dysfunction. It was worse than the paper!
Thank you for all of your great tips. You have picked a perfect spot to write! 💞
Aww, thank you, Louann! It really was a mess. And I feel so bad for those friends left behind. If you make it over to Scotland you definitely have to let me know!
Thanks, I will!
I'm so happy to hear that you've been able to settle in Edinburgh again! And your views: wow! The pomodoro app was recommended to me by another writer so I'm going to give it a go--now. Thank you for sharing your productivity insights.
Great! Let me know what you think of it and how you use it. I just discovered the white noise options, which look intriguing--like cafe, frogs at night, and ocean.
Well, success! I completed two, 30-minute pomodoros and, guess what, I finally finished a short story that I've been 90% finished for the past two years. And it wasn't hard at all. The other thing that helped was that I made myself leave my house--not easy to do in Boston in the winter--and went to the library in a nearby town to work on my story.
On to pomodoro #3: at this rate, I may actually be able to submit my story before the end of 2024!
How wonderful!!Way to go! That makes me so happy to hear. May the pomodoros continue!!!
And, your view is amazing! I hope it inspires you daily!!
It does! It's so soothing to the nervous system, a great state to write in.
Thank you for sharing!!