So Pomodoro is tomato in Italian. Whilst I like tomatoes, it’s not what I’m going to be focusing on. The Pomodoro technique is also a really effective time management technique.
The Pomodoro technique Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s. Cirillo was struggling to focus on his studies Feeling overwhelmed, he asked himself to commit to just a short period of focused study time. And what’s the link to the Pomodoro, well he used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer to track his time.
How does it work?
Firstly choose a task you want to focus on, set a 25 minutes timer, work on with deep focus for the time, take a five-minute break, repeat, and then after four pomodorians or series take a longer break, like 30 mins.
Its popularity lies in its simplicity with the timer and short work periods instilling a sense of urgency. The more frequent breaks promote mental agility and without risk of burning out so by the end of the day, you won’t feel exhausted. It’s perfect if you’re distracted while working or can use it even to understand how long different tasks take – measuring them in Pomodoro units. It’s ideal for many types of work including writing, coding, design, and study.
The 25 minutes should be of intense focus, don’t check your phone or get distracted just concentrate on the task you have selected. Set everything up you need to do the task beforehand so your not wasting any of this time. And the breaks, well that’s up to you – get a drink, go to the bathroom, have a conversation.
I like to think of the technique as a guide, if you can focus for longer or are in a flow state of focus then go ahead over the 25 mins. Maybe you can focus for 40 minutes intervals, do what works for you but remember to take short breaks regularly.
You may also not get through four pomodoros but even simply doing one or two will help your brain practice intense periods of focus and try it every day to build up the habit. I personally like to use this for my mornings where I can get through a few tasks and then by lunchtime I have already felt I have achieved a lot with still energy for the afternoon.
Type pomodoro into the app store, there are plenty of options you can use. Its important to not look at the time as this is just a distraction, let the sound tell you when the session is finished.
I’m Matt and let’s reach itt!
Lifestyle
