Posts in category: CTIC News

Giving back gives more than we might realize. Research suggests giving to others benefits not only them, but our own bodies and minds as well.

A BMC Public Health study results indicate that other-oriented volunteering – giving for the sake of helping another person, rather than for our own gain – has significantly stronger effects on mental and physical health, life satisfaction and social well-being. When we volunteer for altruistic reasons and express concern and care for other’s needs, regardless of how it affects us, we benefit our bodies – and likely each other – more. 

In self-oriented volunteering, the volunteer’s motivation is defined by the desire to develop social networks, acquire skills or evade personal problems and it is not as effective for our health, nor is it likely to be as effective for the people we are serving. This suggests volunteering benefits are better when there is not an expectation of compensation, but that does not mean there is no “pay.”

In giving, we are “paid” with the feeling of pride and joy that arises from having served someone – a smile on their face, a genuine thanks. We also can reap the benefits of supported community members – a veteran with the newfound resources to find a job they love or a kid with a safe and fun after school program. We can build our communities stronger for the individuals we know and lives we build.

There are additional correlations between wellness and volunteering: volunteers may experience a lower rate of mortality than those who do not, according to an observation of an analysis of data from the Longitudinal Study of Aging. In another study by the American Society of Pain Management Nurses, individuals suffering from chronic pain experience a decrease in the intensity of their pain, disability levels and depression when they served as peer volunteers.

There is also positive indications for disease prevention: volunteerism may be an effective, non-pharmacological intervention for incidence of hypertension. Such is a risk factor of cardiovascular disease, stroke and mortality. Participants in a Carnegie Mellon University study who had volunteered 200 hours or more in a year were 40% less likely to develop hypertension than non-volunteers.

Extending this observation on volunteering and heart health, an analysis by AmeriCorps using health and volunteering data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Center for Disease Control, it was found that “states with higher volunteer rates are more likely to have lower rates of mortality and less incidence of heart disease.” 

Service may just be the secret for the health and wellness of ourselves and our communities. On this GivingTuesday, find let’s serve our bodies, and each other.

GivingTuesday is an opportunity to use your individual power of generosity to connect and support your communities through acts of kindness, time, talent and treasure. “All around the world, we are joining forces and leaning on each other – and this generosity tells us that we will achieve the better, more just world that we all seek,” writes the GivingTuesday website.

You can donate to the TechWorks program and help us support our veterans. We are equipping them with laptops and the digital skills they need to become connected with social and employment opportunities. 

Driver, roll up the partition, please. 

Last month, Maryland put legislation into effect pertinent to farm owners and relevant to anyone who owns property.

In May, Maryland joined twenty-one states in enacting a version of the “Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act.” Maryland’s new “Partition of Property Act” aims to help families preserve wealth and legacies held in real property by protecting them from predatory sales, tangled titles and pressured decisions on property and ownership division.

The legislation serves to provide a pathway encouraging collaboration and equity. Previously, when all heirs had equal ownership (and were known by law as tenants-in-common) any one heir could force the sale of the property and have resulting funds divided amongst heirs, known as partition by-sale. In this process, the property is often sold at below the fair market value and strips heirs of an opportunity to acquire wealth – in the form of land or fair compensation. This partitioning was a common approach for settling disputes among heirs and a speculatively desired proceeding for real-estate to acquire property at below-market prices.

The “Partition of Property Act” seeks to change the Maryland partition law to protect owners of tenancy-in-common property by requiring notification of property stakeholders and a fair market-based valuation of the land and by creating a road map for buyouts and partition.

1. It creates a notice requirement.
   • Alert all property owners at the same time;
   • Put forth effort to identify and alert heirs known and unknown;
   • Mark the property conspicuously to bring the community’s attention to the property’s status.
2. It demands property valuation by
   • An appraisal OR
   • Evidence OR
   • Court determination based on appraisal plus evidence OR
   • Owners come to an agreement.
3. Offers buy-out options by
   • Giving co-owners the right to buy-out those who don’t want the property at all.
4. Encourages partitioning aside from the common by-sale.
   • Dividing the land into parts, known as partition by-kind, is a required consideration for the courts.

If there is no buy-out or partitioning of the land in-kind, partitioning must be done in-sale, meaning the property must be valued on an open market to receive a fair market price.

When deciding the value of the property, with this legislation the courts must consider various inputs to the lands use and consequences of partitioning such as:

• Practicality of dividing the property;
• If partitioning will cause the property to be materially diminished;
• Impact of co-tenants on the land (eg how their actions have improved the value of the property);
• Sentimental value.

Supporters of this legislation expect it will create a pathway to clear titling and encourage collaboration among stakeholders. It is in-line with allowing farmers to go through the re-lending process to access funds available in the Inflation Protection Act through re-titling.

The full impact of the legislation will be seen as it enters the “real world” and is employed by courts and property heirs and landowners, who now have a better footing to protect and manage their property.

Read the bill language here. 

TikTok is creating an inclusive culture of influence – it’s time you include yourself and your business.

With an algorithm that maximizes discoverability, TikTok is equalizing opportunities for brand exposure and engagement. And, it works. Creating TikToks and interacting with viewers as a brand personality is becoming a huge part of marketing, press and presence for small businesses.

73% of users report feeling a deeper connection to brands they interact with on TikTok versus other apps. The unique style of the platform makes viewers feel like they get to “know” a brand, and that’s in large part because of the content brands make.  

At the TikTok Small Business Workshop hosted by the 2022 TEDCO Tech Fair, the resounding advice for business users was “make TikToks, not ads.” In this vein, brands should not post videos advertising a product or service – instead, they have to sell what viewers are buying: entertainment and earnest engagement.  

Brands are expected to contribute equally to the culture. Businesses on the platform are side by side with creators. In this way, they are competing, collaborating and creating content alongside average and exceptional TikTokers. Businesses are at the liberty of the trends and techniques valued by viewers.  

Market to the mobile. Videos must be vertical, at a 9:16 aspect ratio, to achieve high engagement. Viewers don’t like to see content that has been pulled off other platforms, as it will appear if the video is horizontal or not filling the entire screen.  

Make some noise. TikToks do well with voice-overs, songs and trending audios. Various noises are often layered atop each other and complimented by on-screen captioning. TikTok makes it easy with an extensive library of popular music and voice-over sounds. TikToks branded to or making use of trending audios do very well on the app – so pay attention to what’s popping! 

Mold your message. Emphasize your message or tell your entire story with on-screen captions. This engrosses your viewer in more types of mediums and makes the material more accessible. Captions are easily created in the app’s editing tools.

Manage your minutes. The optimal duration for a TikTok is 21-34 seconds – never go below 10 seconds! This is because the completion rate of videos is what moves the algorithm, so you want viewers to be able to finish your videos and even watch them again. Editing tools exist within the app, so you can do all the work right there.

Make your mark! Pick up the camera and shoot. The best content is not the stuff that’s highly produced – it’s the stuff that’s authentic to you and your brand. Check out some ideas for tapping into that authenticity and the narrative you have to share with some recently trending templates for small businesses: 

 If none of these spark your creativity, jump on the app and discover what trends and techniques that speak to you and your brand. TikTok offers support to businesses, accessible through tiktok.com/business and impact.tiktok.com.

Most importantly, lead with authenticity. When you share what you love, you’re sure to attract the people that love it too. Happy TikTok-ing!

Folks often join economic development organizations with the hope of meeting other businesses and resources that will lead them to new opportunities and connections. While community groups like Carroll Technology and Innovation Council are usually identified for those working in Carroll County, they can also offer great services to those who live here and work elsewhere. 

Opportunities to connect and serve arise all around you when you are connected to your community. That is what has been true of David Shaffer’s experience living and being involved in Carroll County, despite not doing business here.  

“We live here,” said David Shaffer, who has lived in Carroll County since 1990, started a family here and was one of the founders of the then Carroll Technology Council. “I don’t like it, I love it,” he said of his Carroll County home and life. 

Although the ability to move his business here has not been possible, Shaffer still finds great opportunities by involving himself in the Council’s programming. 

“The tech council, like other organizations, allows you to form those relationships and there’s a lot of information that’s apart of business,” said Shaffer, referencing the Council’s past sessions on insurance and policy education events. “It’s just not all IT stuff, it’s a wide, wide range.”  

The CTIC offers programming intended to advocate for inclusive workforce policies and practices; educate individuals on topics connected or related to technology; improve access to workforce training and development; and promote innovative and inspirational ideas. The CTIC is able to extend technology access and education programs with the support of our members.

Schaffer resonates strongly with the Council’s goals of philanthropy and people. “You’re not there to get clients and customers, you’re there to develop relationships and give back,” he said of the social and educational events and programming. 

Although his business operated in Baltimore County, Shaffer did not feel thwarted from joining and serving the Council. “The resident component is critical,” said Shaffer. “It was very important to me, since I lived here, to give back.” 

If your home is in Carroll County, you can expect to find a home at your Carroll Technology and Innovation Council, too. “It’s great to get to know the people who live with you.” 

With Labor Day having just marked the end of summer and beginning of fall, you might be wondering how to hold onto that summer heat… While the Carroll Technology and Innovation Council doesn’t yet have the capabilities to spark a flame for your nightly fire, we can invite you to be ignited by the passionate people coming to the Ignite Carroll Stage. 

“Ignite is an opportunity for people in our community to hear many different perspectives in one place, in a short amount of time,” said Chris Abell who is organizing Ignite Carroll 10 and has presented in the past. The Ignite concept puts multiple speakers in front of an audience, giving them 5 minutes apiece to enlighten the crowd. “It allows for people to come together or start a conversation about topics they didn’t know they were interested in.” 

With a slogan like “enlighten us, but make it quick,” it seems most fitting that I hold this blog about Ignite to the same sentiment. So, let’s dive into what Ignite is all about.  

Who gets on stage? 

“Anyone can give an Ignite Talk,” said Firen Forrest, Ignite Talks President. If someone has something that sparks them, they have what it takes to be on an Ignite stage.  

Speakers share two things: a burning idea and the guts to get on stage and share it with the crowd. What they talk about and how they do it is up to them.

Coming to the Ignite Carroll stage this year is a lineup of folks ignited about everything from managing dreams and mental/behavioral health stigmas to the point of pointe ballet and the power of music. They are people that we know already – or will feel like we do by the end of their talk. 

“Getting up on stage and sharing yourself with your community is what Ignite Talks is all about—being vulnerable, sharing your passion, your insight, what motivates you or intrigues you,” said Forrest. 

What can I expect as an audience member? 

For each presentation, in 5 minutes, speakers will tell their story over the course of 20 slide presentations that auto-advances every 15 seconds. These constraints breed creativity for the presenter and, Forrest mentioned, sometimes creates “wacky situations” as the speaker tries to speed up or slow down to keep in time with the slides.  

“The talks are short and punchy, and they’re often presented in a way that makes you think about the subject in a new way—an “aha” moment or an angle you weren’t anticipating,” said Forrest. 

The style of the evening moves at a quick and compelling clip and the bite size presentations allow the Ignite audience to hear from over a dozen presenters on one fun, fast paced night.  

“If you find a talk boring or just not your thing, you know it’s only going to be 5 minutes until something fresh and new comes along” added Forrest. 

Why should you attend? 

“A night of Ignite Talks rallies a community and gives that community a forum to know each other more deeply, to connect, and inspire each other,” said Forrest. “And after 2+ years of pandemic and isolation, we really need that.” 

The energy of an Ignite night is uniquely invigorating. Audience members have described the evening being electric and entertaining – an event they look forward to time and time again. Every year and every speaker is different, so you’re bound to learn and see something new.

You may also walk away with the motivation and inspiration to step onto the Ignite stage yourself next time.

Where can you see an evening of Ignite Talks? 

Passionate people are building up and taking to Ignite stages across the world from Sydney, Australia to Accra, Ghana – and our own Carroll County, Maryland on October 19, 2022. 

The Carroll Arts Center doors will be opening on this high-energy evening at 5 pm and the action will be taking place from 6 pm to 8 pm. This year will once again be hosted by the brilliant and energetic Vince Buscemi. 

Get your tickets today and follow @carrolltechcouncil on Instagram to see speakers spotlighted in the weeks leading up to Ignite Carroll. 

Since the pandemic, businesses have adopted remote technologies and practices remarkably quickly, realizing what is possible for work models. In our next chapter of “normal,” we are met with an opportunity to realize the advantages of more flexibility for employees and the possibility of a hybrid model. 

The Harvard Business Review directs businesses to consider the evolution of: 

1. Jobs and Tasks 
2. Employee Preferences 
3. Projects and Workflows 
4. Inclusion and Fairness 

All these elements have been affected by the shift from “being place-constrained (working in the office) to being place-unconstrained (working anywhere)” writes Lynda Gratton of the Harvard Business Review. No longer does work begin and end at the doors of an office building or on-site location. Instead, it has developed the capability to take the shape of wherever we are – sometimes being a laptop pulled into bed or propped up on a beach chair… I won’t tell you which I’m doing at this moment. 

The nature of work has also shifted from “being time-constrained (working synchronously with others) to being time-unconstrained (working asynchronously whenever they choose)” writes Gratton. Email threads and impromptu Zoom calls have commonly replaced regular hallway run-ins and office pop-ins.  

Gratton crafted a 2×2 matrix to illustrate the dimensions of this movement of Time and Place. The model displays work arrangements between the traditional office setting working 9 to 5 and the hybrid model of working from anywhere at any time.  

To best understand and respond to the potential of what work can look like, we must consider not only how to optimize benefits, but also how to minimize downsides. 

Setting up for success: Acclimating to new arrangements 

1. Jobs and Tasks 

Consider what a job needs for success and center adaptations on these identifications. For example, if you find that having live conversations is necessary, then a scheduled synchronous time may be necessary to supplement other people’s shift online.

“When thinking about jobs and tasks, consider how key productivity drivers—energy, focus, coordination, and cooperation—will be affected by changes in working arrangements,” writes Gratton. 

Specific needs can be met with specific directions – sounds intuitive, but it can be tempting to look for blanket answers. Try to hone in on specific issues and opportunities and identify corresponding directives. 

2. Employee Preferences 

Lifestyles, personalities and career status play a large role in adaptation choices. By centering choices on the diversity among these statuses, employees and employers can make choices proportional to their needs and wants.  

Norwegian energy company Equinor has taken the approach of surveying employees about their preferences and assigning personas with hybrid work guidelines. Although you might not have a survey handy, you can do the work of asking about: priorities for interactions, focus abilities and desires for collaboration.  

Considering how circumstance and preferences affect job capabilities can inform your decisions and get you closer to a reality that will foster an optimal work life.  

3. Projects and Workflows 

When deciding how and where we work, it’s valuable to assess arrangements for project and workflow commitments and conditions. As we reformat habits, there is a natural opportunity to observe what has been done and can be done.  

What should not emerge from this time of work in the pandemic is a layering of flawed processes. Using what we have learned from our recent experiences and from years of work life prior, we can inform processes that best suit projects and workflows.  

Consider aspects of banking that are now virtual. At one time, we thought it necessary to have face-to-face meetings and in-person signatures. By observing remote abilities and inviting redesign, a more efficient process has emerged.  

4. Inclusion and Fairness 

When adjusting places to each person’s need, we need to be careful of the different results. Varying degrees of flexibility and freedom can give rise to accusations of unfairness.  

Emphasize decision making based on working capabilities and preferences. In circulating more information, individuals will be able to recognize what care looks like for individuals and the business as a whole. This could look like creating space for people to pitch ideas, normalizing conversations around care by having them regularly or facilitating conversations between different job holders.  

People can be and will feel better represented in the process and the results when they are given opportunities to offer feedback. 

Hybrid work strategies will inevitably look different from business to business, person to person. A commitment to checking-in with ourselves and each other regularly can help propel us into equitable and suitable work that makes us happy. 

Day-to-day aggravations become a source of suffering when we choose to personalize negative influences and events. This happens when we view problems as being intentionally, individually targeted at us. In “The Art of Happiness,” Howard C. Cutler describes this act of personalizing pain as “the tendency to narrow our psychological field of vision by interpreting or misinterpreting everything that occurs in terms of its impact on us.”  

When we approach obstacles in life only by how they affect us, what could be viewed as an inconvenience or a potential point for progress feels very encumbering – sometimes even paralyzing. As the 14th Dalai Lama said of these feelings, we “add to our pain and suffering by being overly sensitive, overreacting to minor things, and sometimes taking things too personally.” 

In deciding a problem is unfair, we might just give ourselves another problem – oh bother! In addition to the problem at hand, we now must grapple with an immense feeling of ‘unfairness’ that threatens to distract and consume us, pulling away the energy we need to tackle the true challenge at hand.  

Allowing our emotions to feed the fire of a problem will grow the flames sky high – and billows of smoke that cloud the paths forward. 

However, problems themselves do not inherently cause suffering. It is in our control whether we choose to lament and labor over the odds and ends of justness. When we can focus on the problem at hand and abandon the debate of whether we deserve it, solving it becomes an exercise rather than a source of pain.

Let’s work this out.

Our ability to solve a problem with this perspective starts with how we define it: “The mere formulation of a problem is far more essential than its solution,” once said Albert Einstein, and he was… like… really good at solving problems. 

Consider some of the ways we can reframe characteristics of a “problem”  

• Self-imposed, circumstantial or other imposed limits may not be tools of oppression, but rather aids for channeling creativity;  
• This moment may be the opportune time you would have hoped to react to in hindsight to a greater problem you now can avoid; 
• This could be the excuse you were hoping for to acquire certain tools, skills and resources now needed for the solution required. 

Applying these reframes may allow you to see the problem as an opportunity – like those uber positive people that may have made you ponder “how do they do it?!”  

Entertain the ways this problem could be useful; allow your mind to be malleable and your process to be flexible. A supple way of thinking allows us to integrate conflicts and inconsistencies into a path forward. With an adaptable approach, we can maintain our composure; with a belief in compassion and progress, we can maintain our optimism. 

When the fight feels too fixed.

We can feel stifled in our actions when we see the problem being long-lasting or permanent. We might be sensing the issue is deeper and will always be unescapable, or we may see a tenuous journey ahead. However, there is nothing in life that doesn’t change – including the problem.  

All things are transient and under the influence of other factors. If we remind ourselves that the problem can change, and that its existence is determined by other factors, we can forge for a solution and identify ways to influence it – even if only our perspective of the problem at first.  

Keep it practical, not personal.

No matter how much you may have to grapple with the problem, defining it and seeking the solution, it is invaluable to remember that you are not defined by the problem. When we identify ourselves with the issue and its characteristics, it can be difficult to progress beyond. Even if the problem successfully revealed information about you, it is not you.  

When I do find myself churning with emotions and personalized pain, maybe even to the point of experiencing intense emotions of hatred or resentment for the source, I ask myself: what can I learn about me in this moment? It’s almost like saying to myself “okay, you want to get personal? Let’s get personal!” This often allows me to identify a problem within and redirect my attention from the source. Although this problem of emotions still presents a secondary problem, reframing this is a practice of making that inclination towards personalizing pain more manageable. Like any mindful awareness of our emotion and thought processing, it’s a practice, and this type of mental training will take time. 

When we care a lot about our career and what we are working towards, it can be easy to fall into the pattern of never saying no. We want to be useful and active; we want to make connections and earn respect; we want to do it all and be it all. Saying yes to anything seems to be the path to achieving everything. 

But when we say yes to something we need to acknowledge we are also saying no to other things. A choice to stay the extra hour at work to take on an extra project for your boss is one less hour you would be spending at home or maybe it’s an added half hour you’ll spend on the road because now you’ll be leaving at rush hour. 

As tempting as it is to give services to others all the time, sometimes the biggest act of service we can extend – to ourselves and to others – is saying no.  

Yep – saying no! Not doing it, leaving the building, taking the break.  

When we say yes to something we don’t want to do it can lead to negative feelings such as resentment towards the person asking or yourself, when you get home and realize your past-self made you sacrifice the work out or the time to cook a meal that would’ve made you feel good. 

This doesn’t mean there won’t be times when we will choose to forgo the home-cooked meal for an opportunity. We get to decide what’s okay and not okay with us.  

Knowing when to say no.

In deciding how to spend your time, ask yourself: will it bring me happiness? Orienting your choices towards what will make you happy will help you make the ‘right decision.’ This will also make your actions about giving yourself something rather than denying or withholding something. As written in “The Art of Happiness” by the 14th Dalai Lama and psychiatrist Howard C. Cutler, with this decision-making approach you will cultivate “an attitude of embracing life rather than rejecting it,” and the effect can help us be more receptive to what will bring us joy in all aspects of life. 

*Tip: For my people pleasing friends, consider how you would choose if you did not have to risk disappointing the person asking. 

These decisions might not be obvious. When you hear a request, you can always ask for more time to consider, or for more information – an approach that will both buy you some time and grant you access to more details that could inform your choice. 

Knowing how to say no.

Once you realize the outcome you desire for the interaction, it’s time to communicate it. For me, as a person inclined to be a people pleaser, expressing my desire and risking disappointment or hurting feelings is the hardest part. Knowing this next bit of information has set me up for success by helping me communicate my true intentions and appreciation to the person requesting something. 

How a person feels about your ‘no’ has a lot to do with how you say it. When people hear the word ‘but’ after a positive statement, they are likely to only remember the negative part that follows. Consider the following statements given by someone wanting to say no to staying on the phone/wanting to hang up: 

• I’ve really enjoyed our conversation, but I need to go now and pick the kids up from school. 
• I’ve really enjoyed our conversation and I need to go now and pick up the kids from school. 

In the first statement, the receiver will only retain that the person wants to hang up, not that they enjoyed the conversation. In the second, the receiver is set up to acknowledge both truths – the conversation was enjoyed, and the speaker needs to leave now for an obligation. Consider this difference again and see the similar effect of simply removing the ‘but’ without giving a replacement: 

• I really appreciate you trusting me with such an assignment, but I’ll have to decline for the time being. 
• I really appreciate you trusting me with such an assignment, and I’ll have to decline for the time being. 
• I really appreciate you trusting me with such an assignment. I’ll have to decline for the time being. 

This all might seem pedantic, BUT it is a good reminder of the impact of this conjunction. The word functions to negate everything that goes before it and signal to the listener that the important part of the sentence is approaching. When we hear the word ‘but,’ we do exactly what it asks of us – reduce the importance of what came before and ramp up our focus on what’s coming next. So, as silly as this may seem, it does matter and can help you more effectively convey a ‘no.’ 

No worries with a good no.

Effectively delivering our messages declining opportunities will help us feel more satisfied in the interaction and offer the receiver understanding. Considering the effect of the most recent example, the person who was trying to give an assignment can take away that there was an appreciation of the meaning of the assignment and that the assignment will not be done by this person, as opposed to wondering if the assignment will get done or knowing that it will get done by an uninterested person. This clarity is spectacular and allows both parties to effectively and efficiently path their next courses of action. 

Practicing these tools for identifying your own desires and the language for conveying them will allow you to step into your integrity and show up better for yourself and the people in your life.

With all there is to do, sometimes we find it easier to just… not.  

When having a long list of chores or a large goal, it can be hard to imagine yourself when it will finally be complete. We may choose to procrastinate to avoid negative emotions such as insecurity, confusion or boredom. Sometimes schedules are too full and busy, or feelings of being overwhelmed and burnt out cloud your vision of the path forward.  

When faced with these feelings of worry, anticipation of what’s to come, or stress, of what is right in front of us, we often struggle knowing where to start. 

By breaking down goals, identifying resources, structuring rewards, gamifying routines and equipping ourselves with the tools to make completing tasks more manageable, we can be prepared to conquer any tasks, large and exciting or small and mundane. Check our tips for how to do it, whatever it may be!

For large or long-term projects, break them down into actionable steps. By making smaller goals, you’ll be able to appropriately plan and allocate your time, use checkpoints to gauge your progress and create momentum as you accomplish each goal small goal after small goal (Google “the importance of small steps” for a great visual).  

Identify your actions with resources. Nobody does it alone! Look for points of collaboration and camaraderie throughout your experience. Decided a day for coffee with a friend too discuss your business idea, select a networking event to connect and share your ideas and struggles, find educational tools to continue your learning and identify accountability buddies (account-a-bili-buddies, if you will). Plus, you may find that you are more willing to hold yourself to a deadline from someone else and, while you can work to value your self-set deadlines as much as you value others, you can use this inclination to keep progressing. 

Chunk the time you spend working, with the Pomodoro Technique. The Pomodoro Technique addresses many of the mishaps that sometimes throw us off track: deadlines too far away to incentivize our dedication to the assignment; working past the point of optimal productivity and not being efficient with our time; feeling overly optimistic about how much work you can do and getting defeated when it doesn’t happen.  

The Pomodoro Technique was developed in the late 1980s by Francesco Cirillo who was struggling to complete his assignments. Feeling overwhelmed, he committed to studying with full focus for just 10 minutes. He found a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato (Pomodoro in Italian) to keep track, and so, the Pomodoro technique was created. Here’s how you can do it, too. 

1. Create a to-do list or identify a single task. 

1. Set a timer for 25 minutes (or use this neat website equipped with work sprints and breaks) and focus on the work at hand until the timer rings. 

1. When the session is over, record what you completed. 

1. Then, enjoy a five-minute break. 

1. After three or four Pomodoros take a restorative 15–30-minute break.  

Once you have started the Pomodoro, the timer must ring. Do not break the session to check emails, chats, or texts. If distractions crop up, take note of them and consider how to prevent them in future sessions. If you have a thought not relevant to the task at hand, jot it down and just come back to it later.  

One way to further optimize your Pomodoro breakdowns is grouping together small tasks that will take less than 25 minutes to complete, such as quick emails and maintenance tasks, and do them in one session instead of letting them interrupt ones dedicated to specific projects. You might not get the time breakdown right the first time you create your Pomodoro to-do list, but by reflecting and keeping note of how much it took you, you will soon learn to be able to masterfully plan your time.  

If you’re feeling detached from what you’re doing, remember why you want it done. When we lose sight of why we are doing something, it becomes a reason we give ourselves to blow it off or delay it another day. Try to connect your actions to your values. Consider how you would reframe completing a task into the person you want to become… work with me here.  

For example, I will fold my laundry because I am the type of person who …values taking care of my things has a way to honor those who made them …values a clean space …acknowledges my partner’s preference for an organized room. By remembering the values we care about we can care more deeply about the work we are doing. Here’s a couple more examples: 

• I will finish my school assignment because I am the type of person who …knows that while this course isn’t for my major, it is for my overall thinking and approach to the world …take pride in trying my best. 
• I will attend this networking event because I am the type of person who …values connecting with my community …puts myself out there …believes in my ideas and their potential to inspire others.  

If all else fails, do the thing you dislike like you love it, that’s how you’ll cultivate the drive and discipline to get done what you want to finish.  

After all, (if you are using the Pomodoro method) it’s just 25 minutes, and you’ll be done working when the timer rings!