When I woke up this morning, I thought "shit, how you gonna manage that, you have two days left".
So, I finished the task at hand by giving throwing 22 pomodoros at it. Not that I haven't worked long hours before, but this time it was probably the best mix of flow and work done.
Obviously, I don't think this is something that is suitable as an everyday habit longterm, even if you do what really drives you. It was really interesting for me, how different factors accumulate so that you take action without a second thought, having your only one goal in mind, flowing one working set after the other.
In retrospect, I believe that the driving factors were these:
Clear Goal:
The whole thesis had to be revised one more time today. After the first pomodoro set, I calculated how many more sets I would need to do. I knew that I had to double up the speed to reach my goal. And so I did. I broke it down every other set and knew where I am at. I knew exactly what I need to do at any point in time.
Purpose:
I haven't really consciously thought about that, but it is something that explains it now to me, why I woke up so focused, laser-like and determined. It's because I am working on that thing for four months now; it's because it finishes up something that is on my mind for three years now; it's because I have something to say there.
Deadline:
"shit, two days" when you know you have to finish it, you will engage your brain in a way that does what it takes (unless your brain engages you to find an excuse not to do that, which is often the case when the deadline does not have severe consequences and purpose crash).
I am curious, what your pomodoro or extremely-focused-hour high score is? And why did you do that?
Especially when you were working "smart". What I have done here, is quite repetitive work without much surprises.
But I would still love to capture this state of everlasting focus and to have it at hand or to generate so the next time it will be the best mix of flow and value created.
So, I finished the task at hand by giving throwing 22 pomodoros at it. Not that I haven't worked long hours before, but this time it was probably the best mix of flow and work done.
Obviously, I don't think this is something that is suitable as an everyday habit longterm, even if you do what really drives you. It was really interesting for me, how different factors accumulate so that you take action without a second thought, having your only one goal in mind, flowing one working set after the other.
In retrospect, I believe that the driving factors were these:
Clear Goal:
The whole thesis had to be revised one more time today. After the first pomodoro set, I calculated how many more sets I would need to do. I knew that I had to double up the speed to reach my goal. And so I did. I broke it down every other set and knew where I am at. I knew exactly what I need to do at any point in time.
Purpose:
I haven't really consciously thought about that, but it is something that explains it now to me, why I woke up so focused, laser-like and determined. It's because I am working on that thing for four months now; it's because it finishes up something that is on my mind for three years now; it's because I have something to say there.
Deadline:
"shit, two days" when you know you have to finish it, you will engage your brain in a way that does what it takes (unless your brain engages you to find an excuse not to do that, which is often the case when the deadline does not have severe consequences and purpose crash).
I am curious, what your pomodoro or extremely-focused-hour high score is? And why did you do that?
Especially when you were working "smart". What I have done here, is quite repetitive work without much surprises.
But I would still love to capture this state of everlasting focus and to have it at hand or to generate so the next time it will be the best mix of flow and value created.
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