{"id":379,"date":"2021-04-25T12:44:19","date_gmt":"2021-04-25T16:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/?p=379"},"modified":"2021-08-28T11:44:09","modified_gmt":"2021-08-28T15:44:09","slug":"focus-your-intentions-and-they-will-set-you-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/2021\/04\/25\/focus-your-intentions-and-they-will-set-you-free\/","title":{"rendered":"Focus Your Intentions And Stress Less"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Pandemic teaching has required a fine balance as we navigate our everyday needs and responsibilities. Time on screen needs to be used in a productive manner to minimize the impact on our bodies. So&#8230;<\/p>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<blockquote>\n<h4>How might we be more efficient in using our devices to maximize our productivity, while reducing our screen time?<\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>You can listen to podcast, ebooks, and any text on our device rather than reading to reduce eye strain and create variability in your daily life.<\/p>\n<p>You can make lists, schedule tasks, set reminders, and try strategies like using <a href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/\">Calendly<\/a> to have others book appointments in your available times.<\/p>\n<p>You can create automated tasks using <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/shortcuts\/id915249334\">Shortcuts<\/a> on Apple devices to quickly complete tasks that you do daily (timers, weather, attendance, email a group, block off an hour in your calendar, make a gif, etc).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>All these little tricks and tips are great, but they aren&#8217;t helping me get the real work done.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/files\/2021\/04\/IMG_0111-scaled.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-390\" src=\"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/files\/2021\/04\/IMG_0111-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/files\/2021\/04\/IMG_0111-1024x767.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/files\/2021\/04\/IMG_0111-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/files\/2021\/04\/IMG_0111-768x575.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/files\/2021\/04\/IMG_0111-1536x1150.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/files\/2021\/04\/IMG_0111-2048x1533.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/files\/2021\/04\/IMG_0111-150x112.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 960px) 75vw, 100vw\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve tried focus timer apps that track your tasks and block time for completion like <a href=\"https:\/\/pomofocus.io\/\">Pomodoro Timer<\/a> , <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestapp.cc\/\">Forest<\/a> , and many Google Chrome Add-ons to help me, but there is one missing element &#8211; accountability.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I tell myself that I am an &#8220;active procrastinator,&#8221; Keeping busy doing the things I want to do, while avoiding the things I need to get done.<\/p>\n<p>Tim Urban&#8217;s TED talk is a wonderful look &#8220;Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator&#8221; (13 min.)<\/p>\n<p><em>(Coincidentally, after embedding this video I watched it again, while writing the rest of the blog.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"max-width: 854px;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;\"><iframe style=\"position: absolute; left: 0; top: 0; width: 80%; height: 80%;\" src=\"https:\/\/embed.ted.com\/talks\/lang\/en\/tim_urban_inside_the_mind_of_a_master_procrastinator\" width=\"854\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what I discovered about myself = the key factor for me is accountability. A deadline isn&#8217;t enough, as I used to just wait until the end and get it done.<\/p>\n<p>After the last two year of life (concussion\/pandemic), I&#8217;ve had to readjust my strategy as I no longer can pull all-nighters, while also teaching during a pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>The need to use our devices to make progress is essential, so I need to have clear intentions of tasks and time to be effective. I tried to use my phone for personal and computer\/iPad for work. That helps, but if I take my email off my phone, then I won&#8217;t respond as quickly and I might miss something important.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>So now what&#8230; Online Deep Focus Sessions<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There are new websites that try to help with this by creating a virtual call with someone else who is also trying to focus on completing independent work.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.focusmate.com\/\">Focus Mates<\/a> is a service that allows you to set an intention of the work you intend to complete within the time allotted while being in a call with one other person who is also working independently. This setting simulates the experience of working with someone in a study group.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"atwho-inserted\" contenteditable=\"false\" data-atwho-at-query=\"@rgar\"><a class='bp-suggestions-mention' href='https:\/\/cohort21.com\/members\/rgarand\/' rel='nofollow'>@rgarand<\/a><\/span> was kind enough to share this experience with me today. We met up for a zoom call and silently attempted to write our blogs. Not only did this work for me but when the call was over I continued to work in a focused manner. Thank you Robin!<\/p>\n<p>The official website will have you paired with someone you don&#8217;t know. You can work for the entire hour on one thing, or set up 2\/3 sprints to get smaller tasks completed. https:\/\/www.focusmate.com\/<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 1920px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-379-1\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/files\/2021\/04\/Focusmate.mp4?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/files\/2021\/04\/Focusmate.mp4\">https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/files\/2021\/04\/Focusmate.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>What if you work best in a group setting?<\/h4>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.caveday.org\/\">Cave Day<\/a> <\/strong>is a group workspace where you are in a room of people you don&#8217;t know and everyone is working independent while muted in a video conferencing app. This is to simulate the experience of working in a coffeeshop or library.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"vimeo-player\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/407245963\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The TAG line is &#8220;Positive Peer Pressure to Get Your Sh*t Done.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>You can sign up as a squad and have a coach who helps you plan out your work. All of this sounds like an excellent student study success program to me. Are you ready to become a cavedweller?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Both of these services are paid, but maybe this becomes a Cohort21 Project and we create this for students across CISOntario <span class=\"atwho-inserted\" contenteditable=\"false\" data-atwho-at-query=\"@sarah\"><a class='bp-suggestions-mention' href='https:\/\/cohort21.com\/members\/scraig\/' rel='nofollow'>@scraig<\/a><\/span> ?<\/p>\n<p>Both options can be incorporated in our schools. The idea of a Homework Hubs, Study Pods, or Buddies would work well to allow for drop-in spaces. Similar to those in our physical schools that students miss seeing others in the community like a library, common space, or cafeteria. We have a peer tutoring program at my school, but this is different and it&#8217;s about creating the space for independent work in a social forum.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve used this idea in class with breakout rooms to complete tasks, and sprints to vary interaction with more students. It&#8217;s beneficial to take the time to have them post their intention and they must keep their camera on. They don&#8217;t have to complete the entire assignment, which models chunking and time management.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I would love to hear from you. Do you have programs similar to these at your schools?<\/p>\n<p>Have you experienced FocusMates or gone into the Cave?<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"atwho-inserted\" contenteditable=\"false\" data-atwho-at-query=\"@psenio\"><a class='bp-suggestions-mention' href='https:\/\/cohort21.com\/members\/psenior\/' rel='nofollow'>@psenior<\/a><\/span> <span class=\"atwho-inserted\" contenteditable=\"false\" data-atwho-at-query=\"@mary\"><a class='bp-suggestions-mention' href='https:\/\/cohort21.com\/members\/mwilcox\/' rel='nofollow'>@mwilcox<\/a><\/span> <span class=\"atwho-inserted\" contenteditable=\"false\" data-atwho-at-query=\"@rob\"><a class='bp-suggestions-mention' href='https:\/\/cohort21.com\/members\/rporteous\/' rel='nofollow'>@rporteous<\/a><\/span> <a class='bp-suggestions-mention' href='https:\/\/cohort21.com\/members\/rfoster\/' rel='nofollow'>@rfoster<\/a> <a class='bp-suggestions-mention' href='https:\/\/cohort21.com\/members\/iliu\/' rel='nofollow'>@iliu<\/a> <a class='bp-suggestions-mention' href='https:\/\/cohort21.com\/members\/mbarone\/' rel='nofollow'>@mbarone<\/a> <span class=\"atwho-inserted\" contenteditable=\"false\" data-atwho-at-query=\"@noel\"><a class='bp-suggestions-mention' href='https:\/\/cohort21.com\/members\/nselvanayagam\/' rel='nofollow'>@nselvanayagam<\/a><\/span> <span class=\"atwho-inserted\" contenteditable=\"false\" data-atwho-at-query=\"@justin\"><a class='bp-suggestions-mention' href='https:\/\/cohort21.com\/members\/jmedved\/' rel='nofollow'>@jmedved<\/a><\/span> <span class=\"atwho-inserted\" contenteditable=\"false\" data-atwho-at-query=\"@garth\"><a class='bp-suggestions-mention' href='https:\/\/cohort21.com\/members\/gnichols\/' rel='nofollow'>@gnichols<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pandemic teaching has required a fine balance as we navigate our everyday needs and responsibilities. Time on screen needs to be used in a productive manner to minimize the impact on our bodies. So&#8230; How might we be more efficient in using our devices to maximize our productivity, while reducing our screen time? &nbsp; You &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/2021\/04\/25\/focus-your-intentions-and-they-will-set-you-free\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Focus Your Intentions And Stress Less&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-face-2-face-sessions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=379"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":393,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379\/revisions\/393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cohort21.com\/lisabettencourt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}