Review - Forest App

I have been recently fascinated by this idea of getting into the flow - to get work done.

Since I am working from home (due to Covid19); personally it’s quite challenging to manage interruptions and get focussed time - to get things done - so that I get to feel productive over the work week.

I started to look around for help and stumbled upon - Pomodoro Technique.

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. Each interval is known as a pomodoro, from the Italian word for ‘tomato’, after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used as a university student

First: I tried to use my phone alarm - set to 25mins from now. It didn’t work - lost motivation to set up an alarm each time.

Next: Downloaded an app which supports Pomodoro Technique; it was better - but still I wasn’t completely in - I continue to get pulled into looking at my phone/emails.

Finally: As part of one of the self-help videos - I was introduced to this app FOREST - Stay focussed, be Present. First time I started using it - fell in love with it 😍.

Idea behind Forest app - is pretty simple:

• Whenever you want to stay focussed, plant a tree.
• Your tree will grow while you focus on your work.
• Leaving the app halfway will cause your tree to Die.

Over the day-weeks-month you could see how many trees you have planted and how your forest looks like. And when you review your progress, its a visual treat to see the number of trees you have planted in your forest 😆

This app gives you - both a feeling that you are growing something (visual stimulation) and at the same time getting work done (stay productive).

I personally prefer apps - which does only one thing and does it really well - this is one such app..

Nowadays: When I am planting a tree (read, focussed time) - when I get some notification - the urge for me to check it out is NO longer there. Coz; if I need to check the notification - I would have to quit the app and if I quit the app my tree, which I have been planting all this while - would die.

A simple but a beautiful idea. Taking us closer to our goal of getting into the flow and getting things done - In addition giving a visual treat.

I am growing a new tree as I write this.. Highly recommended! 😄