Ken's No-Mind Trash System

Much like a Linux system rotates archived logs, I retain my work notes, and other papers, using this series of boxes.

This needs a bow-tie -- bow-ties are cool!

Freya, the Fetching Cat

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Our 18 year-old fetching cat. She's fetched, with little training, since she was a furious little fur-ball kitten.

Tough day - Time for a Beer and Lovely Company

Good morning.

Winter Humming Bird

Taken at Kemper Hall, UC Davis

View into my office

Ken is Getting It Done with Getting Things Done and The Pomodoro Technique

I've just finished reading Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. Combined with a bit of The Pomodoro Technique, I'm getting more done at work. The stress-free part of these two systems was greatly needed in my work. Most professional geeks will tell you how many tasks they have to juggle, and how quickly their priorities can shift due to politics, funding, and emergencies (OMG! MY EMAIL IS GONE!); not to mention the pace of changing technology. Add a bit of downsizing to the whole mix, and one has a not so tasty recipe for mental collapse.

  

Last year I decided that something had to change in my job. There was simply too much to do, and I was having trouble managing it all.  I had all but decided the only way out was to polish my resumé, apply elsewhere, and get my suit cleaned (ew, pants). I looked around at other positions, then realized that I may have to change my profession before there would be less of a mess to deal with. I decided I needed to change -- to grow to meet this Sisyphean challenge, so I picked up Getting Things Done again and decided to simply try it for a year. I had been using The Pomodoro Technique, fairly inconsistently, for a few months. I decided I liked the way it helped me take breaks at work, so I’m integrating it in with Getting Things Done.

Now I'm using the two processes to keep the stress down, yet manage to complete oodles of tasks at work. It feels good and I’m sleeping better at night.

I know some of my buddies use techniques in Getting Things Done, how many of you are using it? Is anyone using The Pomodoro Technique? Anyone combining the two?

For those interested in The Pormodoro Technique, but don't want to buy it from Amazon, or would like to preview it, check here: http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/book.html

 

It Smells like Summer

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Rachelle's sour dough pizza crust, and created with care -- thanks to Rachelle. Tomato sauce made in Susan's Kitchen -- thanks to Susan. Frozen summer tomatoes -- thanks to John -- for the industrial freezer unit. In our clean kitchen -- thanks to Betsy. Kick-ass pizza!

Getting Things Done

Hump day, already? I'm back at work, two days, mind still rested with a new outlook on work. Good stuff, more on that later!

Simon says, "Happy New Year"!