Procrastination:
I have been reading a book by Daniel Kahneman titled "Thinking fast and slow"* where the author explains about the results he got from his research over the course of a decade. One thing that particularly interested me is the idea that our brain can be logically divided into two systems which are engaged as the need arises. The first system, System 1, is used sub-consciously by us when we are doing nothing as seen from the outside but are constantly analyzing the surrounding around us. The second system, System 2, is used when we have to actively do something or use our mind to get some results or have to memorize something. The interesting part is that our System 2 is quite lazy and wants to avoid doing something as much as possible. This is what happens when we try to do something: our System 2 tries to put off doing something and we resort to checking our emails, social media or anything that does not require much mental effort.
Well, the 'last-minute panic' mood is not a very effective technique. However, there is an interesting technique that can be quite effective in tackling procrastination.
The Pomodoro Technique:
Pomodoro, in Italian, means tomato which the creator of this technique, Francesco Cirillo, coined after he used a kitchen timer shaped as a tomato. Essentially, this technique can be summarized as follows:
Why this works?
It might seem at first glance that this is just a trick that would have worked for some people and may not work for everyone. But, in fact, tackling procrastination means we need to get into the "flow" of doing things which is to overcome the mental discomfort that arises when we have to put our mental effort into doing something. The same thing applies to learning something as well where the mental discomfort is in overcoming the System 2's laziness. The Pomodoro technique helps us overcome the mental discomfort by making us a discipline to work for a certain time rather than just work for as long as we wish. This is rewarded by a short break following that intense concentration period which gives our mind the relaxation it needs.
Pomodoro based timer for Windows Computer:
I came across a timer for Windows computer based on the Pomodoro technique; it is free and is quite simple. All you have to do is download it and open it everytime you want to start a Pomodoro. The timer stays on top of all other windows and gives a notification whenever the time expires. Also, the tasks that you want to do can be written on a text file and can be saved so that progress can be tracked. There are other timer softwares as well but I found it to be simple and easy to use. To download:
https://keepfocused.codeplex.com/***
References:
* Thinking fast and slow, Daniel Kahneman, 2011
I have been reading a book by Daniel Kahneman titled "Thinking fast and slow"* where the author explains about the results he got from his research over the course of a decade. One thing that particularly interested me is the idea that our brain can be logically divided into two systems which are engaged as the need arises. The first system, System 1, is used sub-consciously by us when we are doing nothing as seen from the outside but are constantly analyzing the surrounding around us. The second system, System 2, is used when we have to actively do something or use our mind to get some results or have to memorize something. The interesting part is that our System 2 is quite lazy and wants to avoid doing something as much as possible. This is what happens when we try to do something: our System 2 tries to put off doing something and we resort to checking our emails, social media or anything that does not require much mental effort.
 |
| (Image source: Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes, http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2012/05/24)** |
The Pomodoro Technique:
Pomodoro, in Italian, means tomato which the creator of this technique, Francesco Cirillo, coined after he used a kitchen timer shaped as a tomato. Essentially, this technique can be summarized as follows:
 |
| A Pomodoro timer (Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique) |
- Make a list of to-do things
- Set a timer for a certain time, for example 25 minutes.
- Work on the task with full concentration during the "working time"
- Take a break for a short time, say 5 minutes
- Repeat the above cycle again.
Why this works?
It might seem at first glance that this is just a trick that would have worked for some people and may not work for everyone. But, in fact, tackling procrastination means we need to get into the "flow" of doing things which is to overcome the mental discomfort that arises when we have to put our mental effort into doing something. The same thing applies to learning something as well where the mental discomfort is in overcoming the System 2's laziness. The Pomodoro technique helps us overcome the mental discomfort by making us a discipline to work for a certain time rather than just work for as long as we wish. This is rewarded by a short break following that intense concentration period which gives our mind the relaxation it needs.
Pomodoro based timer for Windows Computer:
I came across a timer for Windows computer based on the Pomodoro technique; it is free and is quite simple. All you have to do is download it and open it everytime you want to start a Pomodoro. The timer stays on top of all other windows and gives a notification whenever the time expires. Also, the tasks that you want to do can be written on a text file and can be saved so that progress can be tracked. There are other timer softwares as well but I found it to be simple and easy to use. To download:
https://keepfocused.codeplex.com/***
References:
* Thinking fast and slow, Daniel Kahneman, 2011
**http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2012/05/24
*** keepfocussed .codeplex.com
*** keepfocussed .codeplex.com
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