GrooveOtter, a cloud-based platform based around the Pomodoro Technique, offers users greater productivity, happiness and creativity in the New Year. (PRNewsFoto/GrooveOtter)
Launched just in time for people looking to strengthen their work habits in 2016, GrooveOtter reboots the way employees work and, in the process, establishes a healthier work/life balance. Between intrusive technologies and distracting office spaces, individuals are finding it increasingly difficult to dedicate time to effectively get work done. The distractions of digital life, when combined with the often chaotic and cluttered modern workplace, represent a major hurdle against productivity. While many experts have noticed this trend, there have been few steps to address it.
GrooveOtter guides users to work in focused blocks of time and prompts a short break after each period. Taking frequent small breaks throughout the day is proven to help you rest and refocus. This teaches users to work with time instead of constantly against it.
How it Works
GrooveOtter offers greater visibility into how users work by allowing them to see what distracts them and track how long tasks take to complete.
The process is simple:
- Enter what you want to accomplish
- Estimate how much time it will take
- Start the task and work undistracted
- Check it off your list
- Take a short break
The Backstory
GrooveOtter, like many startups, was born out of a simple need. Co-founder Garreth Dottin was working as a developer in the San Francisco startup scene and experienced the hectic and distracting nature of open offices. Although his company was supposed to be on the cutting edge of innovation and productivity, he was surprised to find that the environment seemed to have the opposite effect.
As a first step, Garreth created an app based off the Pomodoro technique. But he realized it still wasn’t enough to cope with the distractions of the modern workplace. He shared his insights with a few friends who worked in a digital agency in DC and found they were experiencing similar problems. “There needed to be a platform that helped organize our thoughts and clear out the clutter,” explained Dottin.