See, there’s this project…
It might be a personal project you’ve been putting off for too long. Or it’s something you have to do for work or school. In any case, you’re determined to make some progress on that project today.
But just as you get started, you get an email notification. Oh, well, spending a minute or two checking your email won’t hurt.
Half an hour later, you get back to the project. And that’s when a friend you haven’t seen in a while calls. Before you know it, you’re chatting about old times.
An hour later, you turn back to your project with renewed determination. But, five minutes in, you realize you’re kind of hungry. And you can’t do your best work on an empty stomach, right?
So you go to fix yourself a snack. And, by the time you finish eating, you don’t feel like working on that project anymore. Maybe tomorrow…
Sound familiar?
If so, then you should check out the Pomodoro Technique.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
The Pomodoro Technique is a popular time management method created by Francesco Cirillo. As a university student, Cirillo developed this system to help him develop better study habits. He'd set a timer for a certain amount of time, and not allow himself to stop to do anything else until the timer went off.The name of the technique was inspired by the kitchen timer he used. It was shaped like a tomato. And the word for tomato in Italian is pomodoro.
You can think of the Pomodoro Technique as timeboxing taken to the next level. You work on a project or task in a series of 25 minute timeboxes, or pomodoros. And after each pomodoro, you take a short break.
The great thing about this method is how accessible it is. No matter where you are, if you have a timer, you can use the Pomodoro Technique to get things done.
Why the Pomodoro Technique Works?
You don’t have to search very hard to find everyone from students, to writers, to CEOs raving about the Pomodoro Technique. But, really, what’s so great about it?The Pomodoro Technique keeps you from getting derailed by distractions.
Interruptions can be hard to ignore. Think about it. How many times have you dropped what you were working on to answer the phone, fix yourself a snack, or look up something online. Well those interruptions and distractions often end up taking longer than you expect, and can keep you from making real progress on any project.The Pomodoro Technique helps you ignore those interruptions and focus on the task at hand.
The Pomodoro Technique gives you a finish line.
It’s easier to get started on a challenging or unpleasant task if you know when you can stop. (Like, say, in 25 minutes.) And once you’ve worked on something for one pomodoro, there’s a good chance you’ll realize it wasn’t as hard or unpleasant as you thought it would be. As a result, you just might want to work on it a little longer.The Pomodoro Technique is easy to use.
The problem with a lot of productivity methods, even the good ones, is that they’re too complicated or involved. As often as not, the benefits of using those methods won’t seem worth the hassle.The Pomodoro Technique is easy to use. In fact, the hardest part is choosing a timer.
How to Use the Pomodoro Technique
All you really need to use the Pomodoro Technique is a timer. However, to track your progress, you should also grab a pen and a piece of paper. Next:- Choose the task or project you want to work on.
- Set the timer for 25 minutes.
- Work on the task until the timer rings. Don’t stop to grab a snack, or see what’s happening on Twitter. For those 25 minutes, you focus on getting some work done.
- When the timer rings, put an X or check mark on your piece of paper, to show that you completed a pomodoro.
- Take a 3 to 5 minute break. Take a few deep breaths. Walk around for a bit. Grab a glass of water.
- When you’re break is over, start the next pomodoro.
- After four pomodoros, take a 15 to 30 minute break. You might find you want to get back to work sooner. But give yourself at least 15 minutes to relax and recharge. This will make you more focused and productive when you get back to work.
- Once your long break is over, start on your next set of Pomodoros.
Oh, one more thing. A pomodoro is indivisible. This means that if you stop working on your project before the timer rings, you don’t get credit for that block of time. No, you can only put that X on your paper when you complete a full Pomodoro.
Now if you stop to answer the phone, and it only takes a minute or two to tell the caller that you’ll get back to them later, you don’t have to cancel the current pomodoro. Just deal with the call (or other interruption) and get back to work.
But if an interruption lasts for longer than a few minutes, then the current Pomodoro is null and void, and you don’t get credit for it.
Often, not wanting to “lose credit” for a pomodoro is enough to keep you focused and working on a task for the full 25 minutes.
Is there a project you’re putting off right now? If so, grab a timer and start your first pomodoro. You might be surprised how much progress you can make in the next 25 minutes. And that progress might just motivate you to keep going.
Have you used the Pomodoro Technique? How did it work for you? Leave a comment below and let us know.
