I don't like convoluted schemes to make myself "productive". Hold a carrot on a stick in one hand, a whip in the other and feel bad about myself? That's no way to live.<p>I try to find better reasons why I do the things that I do - why isn't it exciting right now?
I try to check my emotions - is something bothering me so I flee to Instagram?
I actively try to enjoy small pauses to reflect on what I just did, read or learned, how to generalize, memorize and improve it.<p>And I want to smell the flowers along the way, just like all humans have done before us.
My original assumption based on the title was that the author was going to use a randomness machine to assign tasks to himself. Because usually procrastination isn't about not wanting to do something, but just getting over that initial hurdle.
I'd like to see a followup after 6 months or so. Are you still using the method, and is it still having a noticeable affect on your productivity and well-being?
Slight offtopic: The web site's GDPR notice is worth a read. It caught my attention by actually having an equally-sized decline button, which is sadly so rare that it stands out. (TL;DR: They make clear that it's your choice and that they use analytics with privacy-friendly settings to make the site better for readers.)<p>And it's incredible what an effect such a small gesture of respect has. On any other site I'd have CTRL-W'd such a long-winded explanation much earlier.<p>The TL;DR of the article - Adding randomized rewards to the Pomodoro technique by randomizing what fun/distrating thing you'll do during your break, later mixing in other "healthy" activities in with the "fun" stuff.
I use the same method to force myself to do exercises.<p>I do standing desk coding for 1 pomodoro, then exercises (alternating pushups, squats, wall sits, mountain climbers, jumping jacks) during the 4 of the 5min breaks. This way I can intermittently break a sweat and find time to exercise during the day.<p>Much like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QqoSyqckqA" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QqoSyqckqA</a> but spread across working hours.
> " …here’s the method I am using at the moment with great success. You need a random-number generator to work it."<p><a href="http://markforster.squarespace.com/blog/2014/1/22/random-time-management.html#comment20750649" rel="nofollow">http://markforster.squarespace.com/blog/2014/1/22/random-tim...</a>
I need to make the breaks more structured than that. I find meditating during the breaks is helpful to keep me on course, and also improves my attitude during the work.
This sounds really cool. The other thing I would like is more sound effects on real life goals. I play Overwatch, and I always say I wish the stuff I want to be doing would make that sweet headshot ding.<p>Patch in a bell into AFL for everytime it finds a crash. Maybe even a generic function I can throw at the end of main so when my code builds and runs I'll get that audio stimulation.
You should try Stretchly. Its a desktop application that forces you to work with the Pomodoro routine. It can get really annoying when you are coding and want to finish that last bit of code but otherwise I liked it.
No, I don't think it can (completely).<p>If you procrastinate, you lack discipline. No technology can change or give you discipline. You have to work on it and you can't let yourself say no, it's a mindset.