Make a List

• 1). Write down everything you wish to accomplish for the day or the work session.
  
  
• 2). Circle simple tasks, such as mailing a letter, that take little time to complete. Group these items together so you can finish them in one Focus Booster session.
  
  
• 3). Mark the tasks that are time sensitive. Note the time you need to complete each task beside their names.
  
  
• 4). Create a new list based on the annotations on your previous one. Place the time-sensitive items at the beginning of the list. To help increase productivity and reduce burnout, order your list so the complex tasks alternate with the simple ones.
  
  
• 5). Check your list. Familiarize yourself with the first task to accomplish.
  
  

Using Focus Booster

• 1). Start Focus Booster. It appears on your screen as a long, rectangular box with green numbers.
  
  
• 2). Click the "I" button on the right side of the Focus Booster window to open settings for session length, break length and more.
  
  
• 3). Click the "Set Session Length" box. Drag your mouse left to decrease the time. Drag your mouse right to increase time. While the Pomodoro Technique recommends using 25-minute sessions to increase productivity, you may need to experiment to discover your optimal session length.
  
  
• 4). Click the "Set Break Length" box. Drag the mouse left to decrease your break or right to increase your break time.
  
  
• 5). Click "Save" when you are satisfied with Focus Booster's settings. The preferences window will close.
  
  
• 6). Press the "green" button to begin your first Focus Booster Session. Work throughout the session, avoiding interruptions. If you need something, wait for your break to get it.
  
  
• 7). Cross off any completed tasks on your list.
  
  

Taking a Break

• 1). Stop whatever task you're working on when the Focus Booster alarm sounds. You may be tempted to continue or to finish your immediate work; do not. Stop immediately.
  
  
• 2). Stand up if you've been sitting. Stretch and walk around a little. This is your opportunity to use the bathroom, get a cup of coffee or have a snack. Taking a break may seem like a counterproductive way to increase productivity, but it gives your mind a rest from the intense focus you use during a Focus Booster session.
  
  
• 3). Return to work when your break session ends. Press the "green" Focus Booster button to begin a new work session.