The Pomodoro Technique

For many people, time is an enemy. We race against the clock to finish assignments and meet deadlines. The Pomodoro Technique teaches you to work with time, instead of struggling against it. The Pomodoro Method is a revolutionary time management philosophy that aims to provide you with maximum focus and creative freshness, thereby allowing you to complete projects faster and with less mental fatigue. Ready for a simple, life-changing technique?

Goal

Reduce the impact of internal and external interruptions on focus and flow.

What is The Pomodoro Technique?

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method based on 25-minute stretches of focused work broken by 3-to-5 minute breaks and 15-to-30 minute breaks following the completion of four work periods.

Developer and entrepreneur Francesco Cirillo created the Pomodoro Technique in the late 1980s, when he began to use his tomato-shaped kitchen timer to organize his work schedule. Each working interval is called a pomodoro, the Italian word for tomato (plural: pomodori).

The Pomodoro Technique essentially trains you to focus on tasks better by limiting the length of time you to maintain that focus and ensuring restorative breaks from the effort. The method is designed to overcome the tendencies to procrastinate and multitask -- both of which have been found to impair productivity -- and to help you develop more efficient work habits. Effective time management allows people to get more done in less time, while fostering a sense of accomplishment and reducing the potential for burnout.

How does The Pomodoro Technique improve employee engagement and culture?

By being in control of your workload, the Pomodoro Technique is a tool you can use to reach your own objectives. You’ll manage inevitable interruptions while staying focused on the task at hand. Establishing your own timetable sets a limit to motivate you to complete a task within a set period of time. It also delineates your work time from your free time. Creating a clear timetable will allow you to enjoy your time off without worrying that you could be doing more work.

What are the benefits?

1. Frequent breaks keep your mind fresh and focused.

2. Achieve more work faster by forcing you to adhere to strict timing.

3. Attain greater accountability for tasks and minimize the time you spend procrastinating.

4. Helps streamline time-consuming tasks

5. Manage interruptions.

How do you conduct The Pomodoro Technique in the workplace?

The process is simple: For every project throughout the day, you budget your time into short increments, and take breaks periodically. You work for 25 minutes, then take break for five minutes.

Action

The Pomodoro Technique Daily Process

1. Break down your to-do list into 25-minute periods. If a task is going to take you more than 25 minutes then you can set up several periods for one task (you’ll be surprised how long certain projects can take!)

2. Decide on the task for the work segment. You’ll meet your objectives by telling yourself that you’re not allowed to procrastinate during a time period.

3. Eliminate the potential for distraction. Close email and chat programs and shut down social media and other sites that are not related to the task.

4. Set the timer to 25 minutes. Choose a pleasing ring tone. Use a kitchen timer, iPhone timer or the mobile application Pomodoro timer. This timer is to help you focus on what you have to do. In fact, during those 25 minutes you’re not going to do anything else except the task you planned to do.

5. Work on the task until the timer rings; record completion of the pomodoro.

6. Take a three-to-five minute break.

7. When four pomodori have been completed, take a 15-to-30 minute break.

Reference Material

Does the Pomodoro Technique Work for Your Productivity?

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