I answered one of my own questions with a quick read of the book -- you keep going on a task until it is finished. I think this will be a very good technique for me, though I don't follow anything 100% anyway.
Lisa On Thu, May 31, 2012 at 9:57 AM, Lisa Stroyan <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks, Rob. That does help. I'm awful at estimating up front, so I > *should* do that though I think at first I'll try the "do nothing else > but that task and stop at 25 minutes". > > Are you supposed to switch tasks each 25 minutes, or just take a break? > > Do you integrate it with MLO, and if so can you share how? > > By the way, is this what that "alternative complete" function is for, > or was that something else? > > I think I'll soon go do a Pomodoro worth of browsing the book and > looking for a good Pomodoro Android app :) > > Thanks! > > Lisa > > On Thu, May 31, 2012 at 9:03 AM, Rob <[email protected]> wrote: >> Lisa, to clarify the Pomodoro technique: you treat the pomodoro as an atomic >> unit of time (i.e., it cannot be broken down into smaller chunks). This is >> usually 25 minutes, but you can choose whatever length works best for you. >> If you have several small tasks that don't take much time, you can lump >> them together into a single pomodoro, so you aren't just sitting there >> waiting for the timer to go off. You can also use more than one pomodoro to >> complete a task if it can't be completed in just one pomodoro, but the idea >> is to estimate up front how many 25-minute increments will be required to >> complete the task, so you don't end up setting unrealistic goals (at first, >> most of your estimates will be wrong, but they'll get better over time). >> One purpose of the timer is to keep you on track, and help prevent you from >> spending hours on one thing and starving the rest of your tasks. >> >> >> >> On Thursday, May 31, 2012 9:15:24 AM UTC-5, Lisa S wrote: >>> >>> I want to thank all of you for your thoughts on Contexts. I'm finally >>> getting around to really sitting down and analyzing all the possibilities, >>> and this all helps. >>> >>> I really do want to use Contexts in some way that actually helps me work. >>> (And for me my system also has to sync to Android). I've switched over to a >>> combination of goals and starred for my prioritization (though I'm drawn to >>> the idea of focusing more on the Week than on each day, as Dave C discusses; >>> I'll reply to that email separately though). >>> >>> Mikeaja, I think you have a good point; I can draw from GTD what I want, >>> and discard the rest. What I find is that tweaking my system in itself is >>> one of my productivity techniques -- it keeps it fresh even without >>> necessarily adding functionality. >>> >>> João -- can you tell me more about your "energy demand" contexts and how >>> they help? I don't think I can do too many "types" of contexts because the >>> Android app's filtering is a bit basic, but that one calls to me and I might >>> combine it with Luc's Pomodoro suggestion. >>> >>> Luc, I think the Pomodoro technique could really help me and I really >>> appreciate the suggestion. I tend to be a "yak shaver" ( >>> http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/Y/yak-shaving.html ) -- yesterday I >>> reconfigured my phone's dialing system when I was really supposed to be >>> making a quick call for a haircut appointment! I downloaded the free book >>> from http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/book.html but haven't read it, only >>> the quick reference sheet. I like that it can be compatible with other >>> systems too. >>> >>> If I understand you correctly, you have contexts that correspond to what >>> Pomodoro you group them into? So "cleaning cat's litter" and "watering >>> plants" would have the same context? I also think Pomodoro might be good >>> for grouping tasks into energy demands, that perhaps this could be built >>> into the Pomodoro Contexts too, maybe that is what you are saying? After >>> all, Home chores often have similar energy expenditures, Landscape has >>> different ones, etc. >>> >>> Can you tell me what naming system you use for your Pomodoro contexts? If >>> you have a bunch more than you listed (that are not work specific of course) >>> I would love any ideas. >>> >>> Also there are about two dozen Android pomodoro apps...I'm hoping I can >>> find one that doesn't try to do what MLO does but just acts as the timer >>> part.. >>> >>> Thanks again, everyone :) >>> >>> At 12:10 PM 5/11/2012, you wrote: >>> >>> I actually have this pomodoro in my kitchen that I use, and once the 25 >>> minutes is gone, it's finito, finish, the end, I stop doing domestic chores. >>> >>> So, after I've taken a break by doing anything I desire, I can just start >>> another pomodoro that I have engaged myself to do every day, like "personal >>> development" studies. For example here, I listen every day to "Steve Job's >>> vision of the world" on You Tube (inspires me a lot; you can google it >>> easely)...and I read inspiring quotes in this daily "personal development" >>> pomodoro. >>> >>> Now, what about the contexts in all this? For me, context is not just >>> where I am at the moment (place context), but also the kind of work I want >>> to do in this or that moment (situational context). >>> I tried to mix both place and situational contexts, and put at the same >>> time in there the pomodoro technique, so it looks something like this: >>> >>> Home/ My daily (or today's) domestic chores pomodoro; >>> >>> Home/ Today's landscaping pomodoro (if it rains, I just skip it for that >>> day); >>> >>> Home office/ bill payments pomodoro (this context is open 24 hours each >>> Thursday); >>> >>> Anywhere/ personal study pomodoro. >>> In this context for example, I have "daily recurrence" for my "Steve Jobs >>> vision of the world; but I have quotes that are weekly recurrence (I just >>> find it's enough to read this or that on a weekly basis. >>> >>> ...I hope you get the point; I skipped some details here, not to get too >>> heavy! >>> >>> And hope it helps anyone! >>> >>> Lisa >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> Lisa Stroyan, mailto:[email protected] >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MyLifeOrganized" group. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msg/mylifeorganized/-/U8BUmj1smbwJ. >> >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/mylifeorganized?hl=en. > > > > -- > Lisa > > ________________________________ > Lisa Stroyan, mailto: [email protected] -- Lisa ________________________________ Lisa Stroyan, mailto: [email protected] -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MyLifeOrganized" group. 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