Tech Thursday: Focus Helpers
Online task timers and & focus-locking apps are more effective for staying on track than using Halloween candy as a reward.
It is the time of the semester when many of us have loads of papers* to read and provide feedback on, and plenty of distractions – Halloween candy, fall leaves, crisp come-take-a-walk weather among them. While Halloween candy is an excellent motivator for getting through large amounts of grading, it’s perhaps not a healthy long-term choice. Or a choice that the kids in your house will approve of.
*quizzes, projects…pick your poison.
Instead of candy, when I have a long stretch of the same type of task to work on, I try to break the work into chunks that feel manageable, with breaks to separate the chunks. One chunking technique that is perenially popular is the Pomodoro Technique, which relies on chunks of 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break.
The idea is simple - the execution and the sticking-to-it, of course, is the challenge. My normal go-to reward system this time of year - read a paper draft, eat a piece of candy - is admittedly not the best plan. Pairing an online timer, like PomoFocus, with apps to help avoid distractions online is a better way to go. I have long used app timers on my phone and recently started using Mindful Browsing (a Chrome add-on) that gently reminds me about websites I’ve added to the watch list, and offers alternatives. Right now, when I navigate to Facebook, I’m shown a beautiful nature photo and a reminder to take a walk instead.
Wishing you a focused & productive week…
I was just talking about the Pomodoro technique with one of my students today! He said by the time he gets home, the amount of homework is overwhelming so he just shuts down and procrastinates. I wish I'd known about this method when I was in school!