Hello everyone, this is Helen Huang @ Organizing, based in Beijing, China. In order to better learn and practice the YiXiaoNeng Time Management System, after finished publishing 100 Chinese articles, I decided to continue writing and publishing a daily English article in another 100 days based on the "YeWuBin Time Management 100 Episodes" audio program. Today is the 190th day.
Today's topic is: The Pomodoro Technique in Action
Today, I'm going to share a new tool called the "Countdown Portfolio".
We often need countdowns in our life. A tomato timer is a kind of timer often used in the kitchen. Another word for tomato is Pomodoro which has led to a technique called the Pomodoro Technique which we've talked about before. There are a many apps and websites that will provide countdowns for you. Today I will introduce a countdown software called Timers, which offers a combination timer. Unique to all the other timers.
What is a combination timer? Well, instead of showing just one timer, the app or software shows more than one timer on the same page or screen. The idea is to use different timers for different activities in succession.
Let's use an example. There is an activity called "Exercise 7 minutes", which is composed of a combination of 12 activities with a short period of rest in between each activity. The 12 activities include squat jumps, wall sits, push-ups, sit-ups, chair step ups, squats, tricep extensions, planches, standing leg lift, bow pushes, rotating push-ups, and side supports. In between each activity there is a rest period.
Once you open the software or app, you create a series of timers. In this example, 14 timers starting with a 30 second timer for the squat jump, then 10 a second timer to rest, then another 30 second timer for the wall sits, then a fourth timer set to 10 seconds of rest, and so on until you've created 14 timers.
You know you be wondering how you can learn how to perform each exercise. I recommend searching for an article or going to YouTube or Youku if you are in China.
Timers can also be used in other areas, such as the Pomodoro technique! You can try to set up four Pomodoros. Remember a Pomodoro is a set of activities or a set of timers. The first three groups, for example, will be focused to set 25 minutes of work and then 5 minutes of rest. The fourth group will be set to 25 minutes of work and 30 minutes of rest. This long rest will reenergize you. If you remember from lessons 11 and 12, this is the Pomodoro technique in action.
So, what is the difference between a Pomodoro and a countdown or timer? Pomodoro refers to the spirit of concentration, not the concept of time on the countdown. This is the biggest difference between them.
The use of Pomodoros is dedicated to short periods of time where you are intensely focused on the same work. For example, in the 25-minute countdown, we want to adhere to the a "one thing at a time" concept since our brain is not very good at multitasking. We are much more efficient when we are steadfast and narrowly focused on one activity at a time.
While watching TV, we are not focused and you wouldn't use a Pomodoro timer there. While watching TV, we might eat a snack or trim your nails, or do something else. The point is, if you're multitasking then you're not focusing and you're not doing it correctly. You're wasting energy by not focusing on the one technique you are trying to complete.
However, if we are conducting research, or writing a report, we will use the concept of Pomodoro and we will focus on only one thing at a time.
There is another app I want to tell you about. It's called Timers which allows you to easily set up a group of Pomodoros or groups of timers like we talked about above.
There are a couple other functions about Timers I want to introduce.
As an example, when I teach a class, I use the Timers app. The class is two days long, and I split the two-day course into four half-days. In each half-day, I set up a Pomodoro combination consisting of 5 or 6 timers that include the introduction, discussion, chapter reviews, and final review. Then I create the second half day combination, and so on, until I have 4 Pomodoro combinations. When I begin, I open the Timers app, go to my pomodoro combination that I created, and begin the first timer. When it finishes, it will chime and I tap to turn off that alarm and start the next one.
This software is very convenient. My son also uses it. My son will use it when he does his homework. He has assignments in Chinese grammar, Mathematics and English. He sets the Timers app to study Chinese for 25 minutes, rest for 5 minutes, mathematics for 25 minutes, rest for 10 minutes, and finishing up with English for 25 minutes. Then it's over.
If it's simple enough for my son to use it, then I know you will have no problem using it. You will master it in no time. You can use it when you're finished running. After running, you must complete a series of stretches for a specific time. You can use the app to set those timers. We at Yixiaoneng use this software all the time. It's so simple, I challenge you to download it today, and give it a try yourself.
That's all sharing today. Thank you being with me together today. Have a wonderful day!
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