One of the simplest productivity methods, which has been around for a good while. Separate your time into working and rest blocks to get the best out of your attention span.
💬 Introduction
The Pomodoro Technique is less a productivity system and more of a really simple time blocking method. It manages to avoid the complexity of modern time blocking methods while also being really efficient for the right person. If you find that you are constantly distracted when trying to get deep work done, give this simple technique a try to bring your attention back in line.
🚶🏽♂️ Method
The Pomodoro Technique comprises of 5 simple steps:
Decide on the taskSet a 20-25 minute timer Use this time to get work on the taskTake a 5 minute break and return to step 2When you’ve had 3 or 4 blocks, take a longer break of 15-20 minutes instead of 5 minutes📜 History
This technique was developed by a struggling university student, Francesco Cirillo, to combat what we all have faced in our lives: procrastination. The reason it’s called Pomodoro (or tomato in Italian) is that he used this system with a tomato-shaped timer.
This technique poses a couple of key advantages over other productivity methods or techniques.
Sometimes, simple is best: The ease of use makes the pomodoro technique a really attractive technique for people seeking low overhead and wanting to get work done quickly and simply.Stay focused but also stay energised: With the incorporation of frequent short breaks, this technique is ideal for people who feel fatigued from long sessions of working at a computer screen. The break is great for getting a stretch and some coffee while mulling over your task at hand, giving you the ability to come back with a fresh perspective every so often. Keep track of where you’re spending your time: Every time you complete a pomodoro, you can add it to a daily tracker in your notes of diary. If you track the type of task or project it’s related to, you can start to glean some insights over the duration certain tasks or projects need for completion.This is not a system: Pomodoro is great for getting through tasks, but lacks the functionality of a full productivity system. The technique is best placed within a wider system so you can get a better understanding of which tasks to prioritize and how best to manage your pomodoro blocksBreaks can be distracting: Research has shown that changing contexts while trying to get deep work done can be detrimental to the overall progress. If your task requires a longer focus time or work time in general, the short working sprints encouraged by Pomodoro might not be conducive to getting these tasks done. Structure might not be for everyone: Know yourself, if you’re the type of persons who prefers longer working sessions and aren’t comfortable with set blocks of time, you might not enjoy this technique and could find it more distracting than helpful.We shall end this article with a couple of ways you can integrate this system into your daily life using some digital or manual applications.
🎁 Conclusion
The Pomodoro Technique is an easy productivity method to keep in mind when you just need to get things done. There are various ways you can employ this technique and tweak it to fit your own working style as well. You don’t need to keep each Pomodoro cycle 25 minutes if that doesn’t suit you for example.
This technique could be employed as part of your day-to-day productivity suite for when you’re feeling unmotivated, or used as a singular working method. The possibilities abound, but remember to always take your breaks!
