Life Ohm

Are You Struggling with Focus and Time Management? Try Pomodoro

February 4, 2012 By Monica 3 Comments

”Lost time is never found again.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

At times, do you feel overwhelmed?

Does it feel like you have far more projects and tasks on your to-do list than you can possibly accomplish?

I’ve had days like that. Days where I’ve spent so much time thinking about all the things I need to do that I don’t get anything done. Sometimes even small tasks seem like giant mountains to be climbed. In truth, these projects may only take a few minutes to complete once you set your mind to it.

Over the years, I’ve read a lot of time management books and articles trying to find the perfect system, tool, or time saving trick to make myself more productive and able to accomplish more in my day. While I have picked up a few useful tips along the way, nothing has transformed my work day like the Pomodoro Technique.

My job allows me to work from home which means most days, I don’t have a boss looking over my shoulder. I’m judged primarily on the work that I complete. For me, that kind of freedom is crucial to my happiness. With that freedom, also comes responsibility. I’m far from perfect, but most days, I get up at 6:00 a.m. and go to the gym, getting back in time to be showered and dressed to start work at my computer at 8:00 a.m. The rest of the day, it’s up to me to stay focused and create and complete a wide range of projects.

The Tomato for Time Management

If I’m feeling stressed and overwhelmed, it’s hard to be fully engaged in what I need to do. That’s where the Pomodoro Technique comes in. The word pomodoro is Italian for “tomato”. The Pomodoro Technique was named after the tomato by Francesco Cirillo, its creator, because of the tomato timer that is often used.

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Filed Under: Time Management Tagged With: balance, focus, happiness, Pomodoro, Pomodoro Technique, present, time management, work

Do You Need to Fire that Client? Your Peace of Mind May Thank You For It

January 7, 2012 By Monica 2 Comments

“Real Peace of mind has no ups and downs; it cannot be partial in adversity and whole in prosperity.” ~Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Do you have a client that continually drains your energy and saps your peace of mind?

It can happen in many different ways, including clients that don’t respect your time, are hypercritical, have unrealistic expectations, or by just generally being a difficult person. These clients, while maybe well meaning, may not be worth their overall cost to you or your business.

I recently had a client that met all the criteria above. She would call, text, or email requests and questions at all hours of the day and night, including weekends. There was always some emergency, something frantic that needed to be completed right away. Her problems quickly became my problems. If I didn’t respond immediately, a text or email was often quickly followed by a phone call asking why I hadn’t responded yet.

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Filed Under: Finding Balance Tagged With: balance, boundaries, business, client, difficult, fire, goals, life, life purpose, people, success, time managment, work

Set Goals But Also Celebrate Your Victories

January 3, 2012 By Monica Leave a Comment

“How do we keep our inner fire alive? Two things, at minimum, are needed: an ability to appreciate the positives in our life - and a commitment to action.” ~ Nathaniel Branden

As 2012 gets underway and you’re making your New Year’s resolutions, or possibly thinking about the things you’d like to leave behind in 2011 with a Burning Bowl Ceremony, you might also make time to celebrate your victories from 2011. Whether 2011 was a good or bad year for you, everyone has accomplishments they are proud of, no matter how big or small.

In this week of the New Year, take time to reflect on 2011 and make a list of at least 25 things of which you are proud. Look back at your calendar for any significant events, accomplishments, family vacations, or thoughtful gestures you made just to name a few. Once you get started, you might even surprise yourself. This exercise was so moving for me that I’ve decided to do this exercise on a monthly basis. What are some of your proud moments from 2011? From last month? This week? Share your thoughts below.