#7 My favorite technique for effective research

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Time flies. Yes, another year just passed by.

While I took a few days off this month, I reflected on doing research.

Doing research is not always fun. It takes time and there is so much to do.

As researchers, we experience failure, uncertainty, and rejection… but we can certainly make scientific research a feel-good activity by focusing on what we achieve.

For that, having fun helps to repeat the same type of work the following day.

Who doesn't want to get work done?

Here is a powerful productivity hack. Managing energy and time with the Pomodoro Technique developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s.

When you know what needs to be done and what you want to do, break your workday into 25-minute chunks separated by 5-min breaks.

These intervals are called pomodoros.
High focus intervals, no distraction.

After 4-5 pomodoros, a break of about 20 min can be taken.
During that break, just do anything fun. And you will feel good. That’s a dose of dopamine as a reward for the work you just did.

Try the Pomodoro technique this new year for at least 2 to 3 weeks until it becomes a habit.

Then, let me know how it goes :)

What about you? What productivity technique do you use?

Speak soon,

Jamal

My favourite things this week

1- Before taking some time off, I had a conversation with research managers in Morocco. Research evaluation, measuring science, and research strategies are always discussions that I enjoy very much :)

2- Rich discussion with research managers and researchers from Oman around patents data and the importance of including such information in literature/technology reviews.

Quote of the Week

“Rearranging your day around when you have the most energy is one simple way to work smarter instead of just harder.”

— Chris Bailey