Pomodoro technique
It's called The Pomodoro Technique.
Here are instructions in nutshell: When you have work to do, pick a next task that needs to be done. Close email, IM and browser. Set your status as "do not disturb". Put your phone to silent. Set a timer for 25 minutes. Work for 25 minutes. Stop working and enjoy a break. Go check email, surf to Facebook, drink water, stretch, do whatever you want for 5 minutes. Repeat until lunch. Take a lunch break and start over.
Actual Pomodoro Technique is a bit more elegant than my version but it's essentially the same. Go read more about it.
25 minutes is just long enough to really get things done. On the other hand, it's short enough to win procrastination.
What about nerdy toys? Pomodoro is Italian and means a tomato. Originally you were supposed to measure the 25 minutes using tomato-shaped kitchen timer, but real Pomodoro afficianodos get themself elaborate and cool timers, or applications to their mobile devices.
I use Pomodoro Timer for iPhone. It's great, and ticks like a real timer :)
(Tomato image by Fastily)
Good tip! I do the same with kitchen timer, but I set it for 45 minutes. Usually I keep on working until I get distracted / tired after the timer rings, but works like a charm for me. Especially good for reading work-study related books.
Pomodoro as means to fight procrastination appears a good way to get things done. Perhaps this also partially explains why most of us learned so much at school but an adult's time seems to evaporate without traces. I've noticed that without a time frame I spend all too much time pondering what I should do next and when I should start and stop doing whatever I choose to do.
I have been using Workrave for a similar purpose... The software was designed to help people prevent Repetitive Stress Injury but you can configure it to remind you about any kind of breaks. Workrave also optionally shows you muscle and eye (!) excercises you can do while having a break. You can check it out at www.workrave.org.
Hello guys, take a look at Tomighty, a desktop timer for Pomodoro Technique users:
http://code.google.com/p/tomighty/
Cheers!