Time Management, Getting Things Done –  yada yada yada…

Managing Time with Clarity

I don’t know about you but I reckon I have bought more than my fair share of “Getting Things Done” books and Guides in my time and I just never seem to find a perfect process that works for me or at least one that I will totally stick to for any length of time. So I guess you could say I have self taught knowledge of this area and if nothing else am well read on the subject!

Until recently I was, well my usual, moderately organised individual despite all that I have already mentioned. In fact the best (until now that is) system I have come across is called the ‘Pomodoro’ technique which sets out a process by which you single task (Humans are rubbish when it comes to serious multitasking) serially throughout the day with consistent regular breaks for say 10 minutes during which you can grab a coffee or whatever floats your boat.

The key here is having the break which it is claimed gives your sub-concious brain time to assimilate the material you have just spent time on.

Well I can confirm that the Pomodoro technique does its job, at least for me it does as I can say with confidence that my retention and absorption of material measurably improved as a direct result of the system. I even use an electronic egg timer (ipomodoro) on my iphone to count out the elapsed time, remind me of my break period and remind me once again that it’s time to get on with my task’s.

If you want the book (I purchased the ebook ) then you can get it from the Pragmatic book store.
Pomodoro Technique Illustrated (eBook) by Staffan Nöteberg which is first rate if a bit quirky in places yet highly recomended.

So things had been progressing quite nicely as I have said, the only drawback being the lack of automation and flexibility beyond that ‘ducks in a row’ structure which ends up paper based. So I am always on the look out for ways of automating things if for no other reason than the consistency that brings to ones approach.

Well now I have found it and the great thing is that it works on windows and Mac and has been around long enough to suggest it’s very stable, I just had not found it previously. The software is known as The Action Machine and it fits very well into the Pomodoro way of doing things yet is flexible enough to adapt to the traditional GTD approaches also.

So now I have a ‘single’ system that in total means I am in full control of my time planning yet in a very efficient and flexible way and I don’t need the iphone to help out any more either.