Ocean sounds + Emergent Task Timer = good

A couple of new techniques/tools that are helping me be more relaxed and productive this week:

First thing in the morning I launch iTunes and set it to play a loop of environmental sound tracks -- one of ocean waves and one of a Cathedral garden with twittering birds and the far off sounds of the choir.  Then I launch Firefox and the Emergent Task Timer, which I use to log my work.  Something about filling in the little circles to indicate what I worked on is satisfying.

Comments

[Yarnspinner]

Oh, that task timer is looking scarily addictive! Except in my usual fashion, I can imagine spending more time playing with the timer than getting work done...

[Laura]

Yes, there is indeed a balance to be found. . . the application actually has an alarm that can go off every fifteen minutes (!) to remind you to record what you're doing (or, I suppose, if you want to motive yourself by doing 15 minutes "dashes" on loathed tasks). Needless to say, I've turned that feature off -- a bit incompatible with the soothing nature sounds. *grin*