How I did it: I read about the pomodoro technique here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/apr/03/change-your-life-self-discipline

and here: http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/

I didn't have a kitchen timer (let alone a tomato shaped one) so I installed a pomodoro timer on my computer so I could time myself for 25 min chunks of work, 5 or 15 minute breaks.

There are lots of timers available here:
http://gigaom.com/collaboration/9-free-pomodoro-timers/

The timer I used was ok but you can't stop it once you start - good when you have started a chunk of work but bad if you want to take a longer break than 15 minutes.

Lessons & tips: I found the 25 minute 'pomodoros' useful for focusing on getting started
with something. It stopped me  procrastinating and 25 minutes isn't that
long so it is not daunting.

What didn't work for me was when I got into the flow of a particular
task being interrupted to take a 'break' when I didn't want to and
sometimes I find it hard to start work again after 5 minutes. I also
wasn't very successful at breaking my 'to do list' into tasks that could
fit 25 minute chunks or moving on to a new task if one had finished
within the 25 minute pomodoro.

I will continue to use the timer method when I need to get going with
some work and may go back to technique to fine tune my time management
but will not use the pomodoro technique as strictly as it is prescribed
to be by the inventors or the technique.

Mar 25, 2012, 06:56PM PDT | 2 comments | 10 cheers