Is procrastination getting in the way of your work or study?
On this page we'll look at practical strategies to help enhance your focus and productivity.
The Pomodoro Technique, created by Francesco Cirillo, uses a timer to break work into 25-minute focused sessions (called Pomodoros – ‘tomato’ in Italian) followed by short breaks.
It's designed to boost productivity by creating urgency and preventing burnout.
Here's a quick video about how the technique works, made by the people behind the organisational tool Trello:
Enhances focus with timed sessions.
Prevents fatigue with regular breaks.
Encourages completing tasks by creating a sense of urgency.
Makes large tasks manageable by breaking them down into smaller parts.
Visible progress increases motivation.
Pomodoro Timer: A simple Pomodoro Timer app that works on a desktop and mobile browser.
Tomato Timers: A Custom Pomodoro Timer featuring To-do List with animated Tomatoes to boost your productivity.
There's also this video timer:
The Two-Minute Rule is to always complete tasks immediately if they take less than two minutes.
This approach helps to combat procrastination, prevents small tasks from accumulating, and fosters a habit of taking immediate action.
Distractions are among the biggest productivity killers. These unwanted interruptions can significantly reduce our ability to focus on a piece of work.
Some web browsers have built-in mechanisms for helping you maintain your focus, while others will let you install extensions to do the same. Here are some resources that might help you reduce simple internet distractions:
Disclaimer: The University does not have an agreement with any of the apps listed below and you should use them with caution. Do not store any sensitive data in them. Browser extensions can potentially 'see' what's on the screen so you should always exercise caution when using them. Don't use them with sensitive information on your screen unless you are absolutely confident that the app is not able to access the page.
Website blockers are an effective tool for maintaining focus. They eliminate the temptation of time-consuming sites, ensuring your attention remains on what you are doing.
Plugins and apps include:
Stayfocusd: A Google Chrome and Edge extension designed to enhance productivity by limiting the time spent on distracting websites, allowing users to block specific sites during set the times of day.
Leechblock: A browser extension that blocks distracting websites for specified periods, preventing time-wasting and enhancing focus during work hours.
Forest: A productivity app that lets you focus on your work by planting a virtual tree. The tree will grow while you leave the app and work but will wither if you use your phone for other things. The app supports real-world tree planting!
Finding it hard to focus and plagued by distractions? Join The Distractibles Meetup on the first Wednesday of each month, 12:30pm to 1:30pm. We are a support group of staff and students with small group chat and an ideas bank of things to try. Whether you're neurodiverse or just easily distracted, our peer-support group might be just the thing for you.
Sign up for the next session in the Forthcoming Sessions box.
If you've attended before, you can use the same Zoom link.
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