Always take your breaks

I use the pomodoro technique. It can be really useful and the basic idea is incredibly simple. Plan out your tasks. Put on a timer for 25m. When that’s done take a 5m break and repeat. This technique has taught me one very important thing about getting things done; always take your breaks.

Taking that 5m break is just as important as focusing during the 25m that you’re working.

If you work through that break you run the risk of burning yourself out temporarily and getting tired or bored. That will hurt your workflow more than taking a short 5m break. Take the 5m break. Always. Even when you don’t feel like you “need” it and you still feel motivated to keep working. You’ll come back slightly more refreshed and ready to get things done. Working effectively for 3 hours is better than half-working/half-not-working for the whole day.

If you’re working for more than an hour, I suggest scheduling in a 10m break every now and then. And make sure you account for that break time in estimates for how long it takes to complete a task. You might be surprised at how quickly you can get things done when you do this; I often do.

Always take your breaks.

ISJ