You've [I've] Got the Power

Ok, you know I just put that 1980's dance mix in your head, disco ball and all.

I'm posting late today because I got sucked into the well of social media and general timewasting. I don't want any of you to get the idea I'm somehow perfect at time management. In the midst of my timewasting, I came across an important need in my community so it wasn't a complete waste of time. My plans for the next week, or more, have changed a bit. Nonetheless, today's post will fit right in so I'm going to continue the series. But First, a PSA.

Public Service Announcement (PSA)

Please indulge me for a moment. While I have been working onmy projects and goals, a new need has come forth and I am placing my personal planson hold to help my community. Our area hospitals need PPE equipment and haveasked for help from our sewing community to create masks for their staff andworkers. Of course, I will help.

The Team

Greater St. Louis One Million Mask Drive is coordinating efforts to organize volunteers and get much needed masks to locations in our community. If you can help, please "Like" their site on Facebook or check out their website and volunteer. You don't have to know how to sew. They need people to drive pick-ups and drop-offs, people to cut and package kits, and more. Visit the site and see where you can help. It is much appreciated.

If you do sew, they have a preferred pattern, the Aries mask, but will take masks made from other patterns as well. Again, you can download the pattern, volunteer, and get more information at the Facebook page. Thank you and now back to our regularly schedule programing (If you're as old as me, you'll remember that phrase).

Power Blocks

It is fitting that I planned to write about a concept calledPower Blocks today. It is easy to get overwhelmed. You may be volunteering,working on a goal, working your job, working from home, caring for family, allof these and more. Getting separation from work and home life is new to many ofus. It's stressful and you need to remember to take care of yourself, too. Remember,there is a reason they tell you to put your own oxygen mask on first!

Power blocks are a strategy to break your day into blocks ofconcentrated work time with important BREAKS in between. There are multipleways to apply the strategy but I'm only going to talk about two of them here.Both have worked for me.

The Time Block method

In the Time Block method, you block your day by 90 minutework blocks separated by half hour breaks. The idea is for you to concentrate onyour work for 90 minutes and then take a break.

Shut out all distractions including turning off all notificationson your phone and computer, closing tabs for social media in your browser, and basicallyblocking any other distractions you may have. Get your household on board too. Dowhatever you need to, to be able to work for the 90 minutes. Do it. You're notstriving for perfection here, just a block of time to concentrate on your work.Then, take the break.

The breaks are just as important as the concentrated effort.You need to clear your mind, relax a bit and get ready for your next session.Give yourself permission to check social media or walk the dog or do whateveryou set aside so you could work for 90 minutes. Knowing that you have time setaside to do all those other things clears the deck for working the important 90minute task.

I have found that I can get three to four power blocks inbefore my day collapses into my usual unscheduled mess. That might only be 4.5 to6 hours of work, however, I get a lot of work done because I'm not distractedby everything else in my life during those time blocks. And, I have plannedbreaks to address everything else.

The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodorotechnique is a time-management strategy that uses shorter bursts of effortseparated by shorter breaks. After three to four cycles, you take a longer break.If you can't block a full 90 minutes, this method might work well for you. Youcan find a lot of information about this technique on the internet, just searchPomodoro technique. I'll give you the nickel tour here.

In the Pomodoro technique, you use a simple kitchen timer orsimilar timing device. Set it for 25 minutes and then proceed to concentrate onyour task. At the bell, rest for 5 minutes (check email, social media, etc.)When the 5 minutes are up, start another 25 minute session. After three to fourcycles, take a 15 minute break.

There are apps available for this technique too. I found agood one at Focus To-Do, but there aremany others available. What I like about this one is that it is more than atimer. You can create projects and separate task lists for each project. Thenyou can add the number of "pomodoro" timers you need for completing eachtask. It can sync across all your devices so whether you are on a mobile phone,a computer or a tablet, you can record tasks or start a Pomodoro at any time oranywhere. (I get nothing for promoting this app, I just REALLY like it).

Give it a Try

The only way to know if either of these techniques can helpyou is to give them a try. I was skeptical when I first learned about them however,they have made a difference for me. I use both methods outlined here. Some daysI can't block 90 minutes, but I can get a few pomodoro sessions scheduled.

So give them a try and let me know how it goes!

Oh, by the way, pomodoro means tomato in Italian. The techniqueis named after the tomato timer used by FrancescoCirillo, who invented the technique.

Until next time,