Standing and sitting, again...

[alexpgp]

Just because I stand when I work doesn't mean I never sit. Indeed, I typically take breaks sitting down at a library table Galina and I bought some years ago. As part of moving my office, I've moved said library table into my office.

I hope to make it a "reading, handwriting, and meditation" station. However, I think I will have to be on guard against the very real temptation of spending increasing amounts of time sitting. (Before, when the desk was in the next room, I was quite acutely aware of being "away from keyboard," meaning work.)

My most recent episode of poor productivity had me trying something called the "Pomodoro method," in which one sets a timer for 25 minutes (a unit called a "Pomodoro," in honor of a mechanical kitchen timer shaped like a tomato) and then single-mindedly pursues a single task during that period, after which the method calls for an enforced 5 minute break, during which one should not do anything work-related at all. After the break, it's back to the mine face, and so on. The system has a few additional wrinkles, but I think my description covers the main points.

The Pomodoro method appears to be a more structured version of my own approach to productivity improvement, which is simply to pay attention to what I am doing, generally represented by doing word counts periodically, and mentally encouraging myself with "You're going to have to do better than that!" when necessary.

Anyway, if my periods of sitzfleisch become all too common, or lengthy, I may have to bring a timer into the room. Meanwhile, I plan to spend an hour (two Pomodoros) catching up on my reading and thinking.

Cheers...

Comments

[velvet-granat.livejournal.com]

I use the Pomodoro technique together with Breaker (http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/Diary-Organizers-Calendar/Breaker.shtml) when I have a lot of work to get through in a day, and can't afford to get distracted. It works nicely. Personally, I find it difficult to maintain focus for more than 20 minutes... the mind just drifts off.