August 2017 MVP Jan Egil Ring and I launched an open source PowerShell based Pomodoro timer. This is a great way to get stuff done, but difficult to get started with. Andreas Kang Schøyen over at Lillevik IT has done something about that and created an executable program that sets up the integrations and timer.

How it works

When downloading and installing the app, it will automatically integrate with your Skype for Business 32 bit application and your Windows OS making it capable to:

Set you to “do not disturb” in Skype for Business with a custom presence state called Pomodoro Sprint
- The app cotains the SDK dll’s for the Skype for Business client, so no extra installs to control presence
Write a note of your choosing during the the Pomodoro sprint and adding the time when you will be available
- It even counts down the last 15 seconds, so that people waiting to reach you that you are about to become available
Write a note of your choosing after the Pomodoro sprint is complete
Set your computer in to presentation mode which suppresses popups
Start your favourite Spotify playlist for productivity
Make you available again when the sprint is finished

The app supports automatic updates and the roadmap includes IFTTT ingration so that you can mute your phone during the pomodoro sprint. See full roadmap here

The goal is to induce the flow state in a busy workday

Multitasking is a myth. The goal is to reach the flow state by focusing on one task at a time. Have you ever started writing an email, thought you sent it and eagerly waiting for a response, only to find it incomplete and unsent at the end of the day? This is one of the perils of multitasking.

The Pomodoro Technique is a great methodology to induce flow in a busy workday. It is all about avoiding distractions for 15-25 minutes and focus on one task at a time. This is a short enough period in the day that you can squeeze it in before a meeting. It is incredible what you can get done 15-25 minutes. The goal is to not get distracted and it takes about 7 minutes of focus before your reach your flow state.

If you want to succeed with Pomodoro, you need to make yourself unavailable. Equally important, you need to make yourself available again when those 25 minutes have passed. That is why we created the Pomodoro PowerShell tool, and why I love the simplicity of this app.

Read more and download the exe and MSI version of the app here: http://pomodoro.lit.no

Watch an outtake from my session at Microsoft Ignite 2017 on singletasking

Learn more on my thinking around singletasking and tools available to succeed with the flow state, from this outtake of my OneNote LifeHacks talk at Microsoft Ignite 2017

Complete lists of your tasks is key to success

An important part of succeeding with the Pomodoro Technique is lists. Lists enables you to choose the task that lifts the most weight off your shoulders at that point in time. I use OneNote to capture all my ideas and actions, enabling me to create that finite list of tasks. Check out how I do it in my OneNote LifeHacks YouTube series

Update: An executable Windows app has been created based on this open source script to simplify the process. Read about it here

MVP Jan Egil Ring and I have created a GitHub PowerShell project called PsProductivityTools. There you will find a function called Start-Pomodoro with the following features

Count down for 25 minutes by default or a period specified by you
- Start-Pomodoro -Minutes 10
The function will set your computer in presentation mode which will suppress all notifications and popups on your windows machine
- if you are using a workstation you need to turn on mobility center in registry
Set your Skype for Business client in Do Not Disturb using a custom presence state called Pomodoro Sprint and set your personal note to when you will be available
- will count down the last 15 seconds, because we can :)
- Requires that the Lync 2013 SDK is installed on the local computer
- Requires that custom presence states are set up on the local machine
You can mute and unmute your phone during the Pomodoro Sprint using IFTTT triggers
- You need to have created the mute and unmute triggers, generated a webhook key and installed IFTTT on your mobile
- Will write a tutorial in a later blogpost
It will make you available again after 25 minutes or your specified time, turning on notifications, making you available again in Skype for Business and unmute your phone. Awesome stuff :)

This is an open source project on GitHub so please feel free to add your own suggestions to the project.

How to get started

Open PowerShell and run the following cmdlet
- Install-Module -Name PSProductivityTools
- if you need to update it later run Update-Module -Name PSProductivityTools and restart all PowerShell instances
- You need to run PowerShell as administrator in order to install the module
Now you can run Start-Pomdoro at any time from PowerShell
- Start-Pomodoro
  - This will set your computer in presentation mode
- Start-Pomodoro -Minutes 15 -EndPersonalNote “It’s a good day today”
  - This will set a custom time for your pomodoro and set the personal note in Skype for Business after it has ended, requires that you have set up the Lync 2013 SDK and requires that you have set up custom presence states

What is the Pomodoro Technique?

The goal of the technique is to reduce the impact of internal and external interruptions on focus and flow. A pomodoro is indivisible. When interrupted during a pomodoro, either the other activity must be recorded and postponed (inform – negotiate – schedule – call back) or the pomodoro must be abandoned. The technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. These intervals are named pomodoros. Read more about the Pomodoro Technique here

Why the Pomodoro Technique?

If I can get one Pomodoro done in between meetings, workshops and calls, then I am happy. That Pomodoro is priceless and it helps me answer that long email, get started on that document or wrap my head around a problem. 25 minutes is long enough so that I can reach my flow state and short enough that I feel that I actually can do it. It may take between 5-10 minutes to reach the flow state. If I manage to interrupt myself with social media, coffee break or decide to do something else, then I may spend longer time in total on that email instead of just get it done during a Pomodoro. If you want to succeed with Pomodoro, you need to make yourself unavailable, but equally important, you need to make yourself available again when those 25 minutes have passed. That is why we created the Pomodoro PowerShell tool

What is flow?

Flow is the peak performance state where you feel your best and you perform your best. The good news is, it’s hackable. One of the hacks is inducing flow using the Pomodoro Technique. Read more about flow over at the Flow Genome Project

An important part of succeeding with the Pomodoro Technique is lists with your most important tasks that you can prioritize. I use OneNote for that. Check out how I do it in my OneNote LifeHacks YouTube series