Expert Tips To Stop Procrastinating And Avoid Burnout

Do you struggle with procrastination? You might really be noticing it this month as you try to tackle some of those New Year's resolutions you made. Working from home can also be a procrastination pitfall. The good news is that getting over the procrastination hump may be easier than you think thanks to an expert-developed method that can help you accomplish more without experiencing burnout. Do you have a kitchen timer?

According to Suggest, Francesco Cirillo created the “Pomodoro Technique” while he was a student in the late-1980s. He became aware that his study sessions weren't producing enough results, so he came up with a solution. It all started with his tomato-shaped kitchen timer. That's why Cirillo calls his time management system "pomodoro," the Italian word for tomato.

Cirillo set his kitchen timer for 25 minutes. He then focused for the determined time and followed it with a short break of two to five minutes. Then repeat by resetting the timer for another 25 minutes and focusing on your next task. These bursts of productivity are called “pomodoros.”

After four work sessions (about two hours), Francesco Cirillo suggests taking a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. Breaking things into smaller chunks helps you avoid feeling overwhelmed by a major task. Cirillo found that this strategy helped him get a lot more done. He has even written a book about it called The Pomodoro Technique.

You don't have to use a kitchen timer, tomato-shaped or otherwise. The timer on your smartphone will work just as well. Just don't get distracted by any apps when you're setting it. Here are those steps again:

The pandemic has changed the way Americans work, probably for good. More and more people want to work remotely, and employers are on board with it. For some folks that means simply working from their home. Others are going anywhere they can get a good Wi-Fi signal. Apparently, North Carolina is an ideal place for remote work.

LawnStarter has come out with their list of 2023’s Best Cities For Remote Workers. They looked at 200 of the largest U.S. cities, judging them on 20 factors, including Internet quality, cost of living, and access to co-working spaces, as well as financial bonuses offered to telecommuting incomers from local and state governments, and more.

Plano, Texas, tops the list with an overall score of 67.11 out of 100. The North Texas city earned the top spot due to their spacious homes, high broadband coverage, and low crime rate, as well as the fact that they have no state income tax, the 10th most affordable rent, and the 19th highest average household income.

Several cities in North Carolina garnered high marks, too. Charlotte and Durham both cracked the top ten, with Raleigh landing in 11th place. Greensboro is 44th and Winston-Salem is 75th out of 200. Charleston is the only South Carolina city on the list at number 138.