Minute With Mallon! Work Smarter, Rest More!

Oct 29

Welcome to Minute with Mallon!

Something I Taught:

Have you ever noticed that when you work nonstop all day, you tend to feel mentally drained and less productive by the end of it?

What if taking short, structured breaks could help you get more done with less effort – and leave you feeling less exhausted?

Recently I was working with a client who never takes breaks. He told me that he always feels burnt out by the end of each day. It was a major problem in his life!

I immediately thought of a tool that I've taught many folks over the years.

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that involves breaking work into short, focused intervals typically lasting 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. It was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s.

Here are five steps to help you understand and implement the technique:

Choose a Task: Decide on the task you want to work on.
Set a Timer for 25 Minutes: Work on the task with full concentration until the timer goes off. This 25-minute work session is called a Pomodoro.
Take a Short Break (5 minutes): After the timer goes off, take a short 5-minute break. Stand up, stretch, or rest your eyes. I usually leave the room and sometimes go outside.
Repeat the Cycle: Start another 25-minute Pomodoro session.
Take a Longer Break (15-30 minutes): After completing three to four Pomodoros, take a longer break to recharge.

There are so many benefits to this method, including:

● Increased Focus: By working in timed intervals, you minimize distractions and procrastination.

● Better Time Awareness: The timer creates a sense of urgency, helping you stay on task.

● Regular Breaks: The short breaks allow you to rest and recharge, which can prevent burnout and mental fatigue.

● Improved Productivity: Many people find they get more done by working in short, intense bursts rather than long, unstructured stretches of time.

And by the way, here is the exact goal my client and I set to begin working on this to make it a habit:

This quarter, through November, I’m using the Pomodoro Technique daily to avoid burnout, boost productivity, and take the necessary breaks for greater accomplishment.

Something to Ponder:

"We suffer more in imagination than in reality."

Seneca

Something I Learned:

A few years ago I met a man named Dan Sullivan. He owns a company called The Strategic Coach. He's brilliant.

One of his books is called, Who, Not How. The main message of the book is to shift from asking "How can I accomplish this?" to "Who can help me achieve this?"—encouraging teamwork and leveraging others' strengths to reach goals more efficiently.

One key point Sullivan makes is that focusing on the "who" allows individuals to concentrate on their unique abilities and highest-value activities. By identifying and partnering with people whose skills complement our goals, we can expand our impact, avoid burnout, and reach success more efficiently.

For practice, the next time a task comes across your desk, don’t start by asking, “How am I going to do this?” Instead, ask, “Who can do this for me?”

I'd highly recommend this book to you if you're a person with a lot to do and you're finding yourself being pulled in too many directions.

Enjoy!