Hi Reader,
A couple of weeks ago, I asked for feedback on my newsletter. Among the heaps of positive comments I got –
One of the core pieces of feedback was: that my newsletter is just a tad bit long.
Guilty as charged: the last issue I sent out had a read time of nearly 8 minutes!
I’m taking this feedback on board and embracing the challenge head-on. So from this week forward, I’ll be sending out a weekly letter, with just one key topic.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into today’s Productivity strategy.
Read time: ~2 minutes
I’ll start by confessing something:
I used to bask in the glory of getting a lot done daily.
Celebrated my brain’s ability to multitask.
Took pride in my hyperproductivity.
Being a productivity nerd, of course, I’d heard of single-tasking. But I’d never truly believed it could work. It just didn’t sound convincing enough to a Type A like me.
So I decided to become my own guinea pig.
I ran a test over the past month. I made a fierce commitment to single-tasking.
And the results surprised me.
What’s single-tasking, and why should you care?
As the name suggests, it’s the very antithesis of multi-tasking.
It means focusing on just one task at a time.
The key to successfully single-task is to eliminate all distractions. Close those pesky hundreds of tabs on your laptop and silence your phone – or better yet, keep it out of sight (like, even in another room. Wild idea, right?)
Single-tasking has vastly improved my deep focus and concentration. And I found I could get through projects much more quickly.
Like, 20% quicker (I’ve measured it. Read on to find out how).
Which brings me to the most amazing tool I use to single-task.
The Pomodoro technique:
Pomodoro is a well-known, incredibly effective time management technique that makes you split your work into short time blocks, typically 25 minutes each.
Each “pomodoro” or 25-minute sprint is followed by a short 5-minute break. You get to take a longer 15-30 minute break after every 4 “pomodoros”
And man oh man, has it been a game-changer for me. Literally.
It makes me hyper-focused on the task at hand.
The 25-minute sprint creates a sense of urgency, and I’m often racing to get more done, before the clock starts to chime (I use this free Pomodoro timer).
The 5-10 minute break in between works like magic to recharge and refresh me, so I come back raring to go for the next sprint.
** Pauses writing you this letter to take a short break between 2 “pomodoros” haha**
Just this past week, I’ve managed to:
- Craft brand strategy and create a short deck for a startup client
- Create a personal branding proposal to onboard 2x new clients
- Plan and set up my upcoming writing + newsletter webinar
- Create content and post 5x on LinkedIn (yes, it’s a LOT)
- Send out a quick newsletter to register early interest
- Write 5,000+ words for an upcoming secret project
And I still have 2 full day’s worth to get even more work done!
So trust me when I tell you, this epic combination of single-tasking plus the Pomodoro technique is my new secret superpower.
Have you been “Pomodoro-ing” (is that even a word, haha)?
How’s it been going for you?
And if you haven’t yet, will you give it a whirl, and see if it works for you?
Let me know! I’d love to hear from you.
P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you:
