The only time that the Pomodoro system really comes into play while utilizing GTD is during the “Do” step. When you go to sit down to do your work, instead of doing it in an unorganized fashion, use Pomodoro to break up and organize your work time. Normally in GTD, everything is organized except for the actual “Do” step. Although we are given contexts in deciding what work to do, we are not told if we should take breaks, how long to work for, etc. Pomodoro helps with this.

For the simplified version of the pomodoro system that I use, all you need is a timer or some sort (I prefer a kitchen timer, or try tomatoi.st), and a sheet of paper. First, look at your list of next actions and pick four that you want to work on. Write them on a sheet of paper. Set the timer for 25 minutes, pick one, and start working. When the timer goes off, put a tally mark next to your action, and take a 5 minute break. Now heres where my system differs from Pomodoro. In the Pomodoro system, you would normally resume here with the task you were working on for another 25 minutes. In my system, you resume here with any of the four tasks on your sheet. I find that sometimes working on something new keeps my creative energy flowing. After 4 Pomodoros, take a 30 minute break.

That’s it, that’s all there is to my system. This keeps me at least somewhat productive and prevents me from dazing off or spending my hours reading blogs and checking my email. (Sometimes this works even better if you unplug, by the way).

1. Think About the End
   Think about how awesome it will feel to finish this project. What will it bring to your life? If you don’t know what’s in store at the end, get excited and brainstorm what it could be.
2. Plan/Break It Up
   Instead of just starting and worry about what its going to be, sometimes its best to break things in to smaller steps, GTD style. Start off by planning instead of actually doing, so that when it’s time for the doing, you won’t be overwhelmed and you can take it in small chunks.
3. Don’t Plan, Just Do
   Sometimes it is best not to plan. For example if you are just trying to write a blog post, try freewriting. Just start putting ideas on to paper. They can be about anything, and eventually something valuable will come out that you can use for a blog post. Once you get some ideas out, then you might want to plan. Or sometimes the best projects aren’t planned at all. Your creative side of your brain isn’t your planning side, so sometimes plans can impede it.
4. Use Somebody
   I’ve found that a great way to get motivated is to tell someone the outcome of your project. How awesome it’s gonna be, how much work it’s gonna be, whatever. The more people you tell the better. Because it’s gonna come up in conversation, and when it does, if you haven’t started it, or barely done anything, your not going to feel to good. Although this may sound bad, it’s called negative reinforcement. Your subconscious mind is going to want to start that project so that next time you talk to someone, you don’t have to say “well, I haven’t really started yet.” Sometimes it is really difficult to motivate yourself, so having someone else do it is a great trick.
5. Ask for Help
   Many times you don’t want to hear the opinion of another when it comes to your personal projects, but sometimes their criticism is what you need. If you tell your idea to someone, and ask them to help you out, they may be able to provide valueable insight. Make sure it is someone useful though. Don’t go to the senior center and ask grandma what she thinks about your new Web 2.0 app.
6. Check Out Something That Will Inspire You
   Depending on what you are trying to get started, sometimes you need to look for inspiration elsewhere before the creativity really flows. Say you are starting a new novel. Read a couple great novels in your genre for inspiration. Writing a blog post? Read some blog posts similar to the one you’re trying to start. Trying to design a new logo? Look for some existing logos for inspiration.
7. Eliminate Fear
   Many times we don’t even realize it, but fear prevents us from starting something. Fear of failing, fear of the reactions of people, fear of a lot of things. Once you can accept and realize that this fear is what’s preventing you from starting, you can kick it to the curb. See emotions we experience, as well as other things like stress, all come from within. You have the ability to control your feelings and emotions whether you want to or not. So stop fearing, and start doing.
8. Set Goals
   If your project is big enough, even getting a huge chunk done won’t feel much different then getting nothing done. By setting goals for yourself, you can create a point when you will feel fulfilled that you got something done.
9. Reward Yourself
   When you finally do start working, reward yourself for your accomplishments. This will make you want to do better in the future.
10. Watch This (Three Parts, in Order)
    
    
    
    

That last one is by my favorite philosopher: Alan Watts (look him up on youtube!).

I hope this post helped you out.

Our economy is one of consumerism. The act of consuming. Eating, buying, reading, in general taking stuff in. We all do it, because we would die if we didn’t. The problem is, that we need to consume to survive. Don’t believe me? Don’t eat. See where that gets you. Consuming is something necessary to our physical existence, and I think that’s where the problem lies. Our lives are really outweighed with the act of consuming and not creating.

So what is this creating thing I keep talking about? Next time you make something (it can be anything from an excel spreadsheet to a new multinational corporation), you may think that’s creativity. In my opinion creation only happens when you feel good about it. No matter what someone says, if that spreadsheet makes you feel good, than you’ve just created something.

Now I said that we have to consume to survive, right? Well it’s my opinion that we also have to create to survive. Both mentally, and physically. The mental part is more obvious. I think that what causes Americans to be depressed, overweight, etc isn’t just the media, but a terrible imbalance. The imbalance of Consuming and Creating. Americans are a consumer society, and it seems like for some of us, that is all we do. I think that if more people started creating awesome things, than they could start to fix that imbalance. Awesome doesn’t mean it has to be big, it just has to change the world. I know that sounds like a paradox, but think of it this way. Everything changes the world in some simple way, even a butterfly flapping its wings. So your creation doesn’t have to be big, it doesn’t have to stop world hunger, cure AIDS, or anything, it just has to change the world. In some way, either big or small. (If you do stop AIDS, congratulations.)

But American’s create stuff every day, right? Well kind of, American’s create a lot of stuff that doesn’t matter to them. To them, it doesn’t seem to change anything, and usually if you create something, and you think that it’s not changing the world in any way, big or small, your probably right. So maybe we have to spend more of our free time creating instead of consuming. Next time you are going to sit down and watch a TV show, try something new and creative.

If you have that project you’ve been wanting to start, start it. If you can’t think of something, do some brainstorming. What things make you happy and you don’t even know it? For example, my dad loves to fix stuff around the house, do new household projects. He may not see it, but that is being extremely creative. You need to find out something you love. If you can’t remember, try to think of when you were a kid? What captured your attention? Try to find out how you can use that love today to be creative and to achieve balance.

Here are some examples of things you could try (you will have to learn how to do them first):

• Start a blog about your life, or some other topic
• Paint/Draw (Physically or Digitally)
• Make Music
• Take up photography
• Learn a new skill
• Learn to become an awesome chef
• Learn to garden
• Design a Website
• Learn how to Write Code
• Build something new

Those are some simple ideas to help you get started. Once you do get started, don’t give up, it may be hard in the beginning, time consuming etc. But once you do start creating, you’ll notice how much better you feel.
I haven’t talked about how creating will physically help you. Two ways. First, instead of sitting watching TV, etc, you will be moving more (sometimes). Second, humans couldn’t survive today without the creations of their predecessors.

So create something, and maybe one day you change the world in a big way.

Looking for ways to get started? I would recommend:

http://www.changethis.com/6.HowToBeCreative

http://zenhabits.net/2009/08/the-little-but-really-useful-guide-to-creativity/

http://zenhabits.net/2009/08/work-as-play/