In the early 1990s, Francesco Cirillo came up with the Pomodoro Technique as a way to get things done or manage time.
Cirillo, a university student at the time, had trouble concentrating and doing his homework. He decided to attempt a different approach to work since he was feeling overburdened, and he held himself responsible for pledging to spend 10 minutes learning in the present. The Pomodoro Technique was created when he decided to take on the task and discovered a timer in the shape of a tomato (indeed, the Italian word for “tomato” is “pomodoro”).
The Pomodoro Technique was the subject of a whole book by Cirillo, yet its essence is straightforward. The approach promotes working in reasonable pieces for brief periods of time, with breaks in between. With this approach, you work in 25-minute periods with 5-minute rests in between. You take a longer break for 15-20 minutes every four or five Pomodoros (think of these as work sessions).
The strategy, which has a sense of urgency built into it, makes you go through your to-do list, cut out distractions, and move forward on your duties for a certain length of time. Additionally, you may avoid distractions by focusing on the breaks that are scheduled throughout your day. Let’s begin by gaining a thorough grasp of the definition and history of the term “pomodoro.”
What does Pomodoro mean?
The Italian word “pomodoro” literally translates to “tomato.” But what does time management have to do with tomatoes?
Cirillo managed his concentrated work time with the aid of a tomato-shaped timer, as we already explained. He eventually gave the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that enabled him to do his greatest work the name of his renowned method.
A Pomodoro is also a 25-minute period of intense labour while discussing the Pomodoro Technique. Set a timer to work for one pomodoro. Get it? Do not fear; we will now go into the specifics of applying the Pomodoro Technique.
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The Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique’s ease of application without any instruction is one of its finest features. Depending on who you ask, these directions might be quite different. But the method’s ability to be customised is one of its finest features.
The Cirillo Pomodoro technique operates as follows:
1. Compile a list of the things you have to do
Consider starting your day by making a to-do list and detailing the things you need to do in order to get the most out of your Pomodoro sessions. If your list grows large, don’t become anxious! Keep in mind that you will divide your job into small chunks throughout the day. Simply write down the tasks you have to complete today.
Consider how much time you will need to accomplish each activity as you construct a list of your to-dos. One task, for instance, can use the entire 25-minute Pomodoro period. Or perhaps you have three quick activities that you can bundle together and do in a pomodoro. Note how long each job will take in minutes. You may then pair up jobs that can be finished in less than 25 minutes. Although you don’t need to be exact with your estimates, you should try to keep your Pomodoro sessions from running over time or having time gaps that need to be filled up.
2. Set a 25-minute timer
You don’t have to use a tomato-shaped kitchen timer exactly like Cirillo did, but if you want to fully experience the Pomodoro Technique, consider using a genuine timer. Use any timer, virtual or actual; it makes no difference. When picking a timer for the Pomodoro Technique, consider the following possibilities:
- Pomodoro tomato timing
- Tomato timer online.
- Keeper of App Focus
- Pomodoro Timer App
Don’t get bogged down in the specifics; the timer you use doesn’t need to be extremely complicated or equipped with any fancy features. To be successful, keep things straightforward.
3. Pay attention to your work until the timer sounds
The challenging aspect is this. Once the timer goes off, you must spend the next 25 minutes working on the activity (or tasks) you’ve selected without being distracted by anything that could cause you to lose focus. It may take some effort to master this stage because avoiding distractions is no simple task.
Advice: If you can, let folks nearby know when you’re practising the Pomodoro technique. Interruptions and outside distractions may be lessened as a result.
If you have free time during a Pomodoro and are unsure what to focus on, Cirillo recommends taking advantage of the opportunity for overlearning.Use the time until the timer goes off to polish and organise your work, reflect on the tasks you completed, or make a note of what you learned.Use the 25 minutes as well as you can, and if you can, put off your break as long as you can.
4. Take a 5-minute break to unwind
You succeeded! The allotted time has passed, so take a rest for around five minutes. Take advantage of this opportunity to go to the bathroom, have a snack, or fill up your water bottle. Limit your screen time if you can to give your eyes a break. Stretch your legs or move your body by standing up. Maintaining your health will keep you motivated for the remainder of the day.
5. Repetition of steps 1 through 4
Are you beginning to get it? Then, repeat the previous procedures. You can skip step four and go directly to step six once you’ve finished four Pomodoros.
6. After every four or five Pomodoros, take a longer break
You deserve it. This time, take a longer, restorative break. Then spend 15 to 20 minutes rejuvenating. Perhaps it’s time for lunch or breakfast. Or perhaps you want to spend some time in the sun outside. Use your break carefully and get ready to plunge into more Pomodoros following it, whatever the situation may be.
I’m done now. Because the Pomodoro Technique is a simple approach to apply, there isn’t much of a learning curve before you can start making use of it.
Does Pomodoro Technique work?
It sounds easy, don’t you think? As a result, you might be wondering whether the Pomodoro technique actually works.
Reviews of the procedure that have circulated online indicate that many people have used it successfully. According to one user, the Pomodoro Technique is a fantastic way to get through boring items on your to-do list. They were more motivated to start working on those dreaded, tiresome must-do’s since they knew they only had 25 minutes to devote to each activity. Another person who used the Pomodoro Technique successfully modified it to suit their unique requirements. With the help of the Pomodoro Technique, they were able to come up with a self-discipline plan to improve and boost production.
But what exactly makes the Pomodoro Technique effective? According to studies, taking short mental breaks might keep you focused. Because we keep getting interrupted at work, we don’t get as much done. The Pomodoro technique helps us focus better by getting rid of interruptions.
Just like with any time management technique, what works well for some people may not work well for others. Try the Pomodoro Technique and adjust it to your own requirements to make sure it works best for you.
The benefits and drawbacks of the Pomodoro technique
The Pomodoro Technique, like every time management technique, has advantages and disadvantages that should be taken into account before using it. Let’s examine both, beginning with the benefits.
The Pomodoro Technique’s benefits
Break the multitasking habit
You’ll kick the multitasking tendency when you use the Pomodoro Technique. Although it may seem like a terrific way to do more, multitasking is distracting and actually lowers productivity. The purpose of the Pomodoro approach is to focus just on the work at hand, leaving the other tasks on your to-do list for the next Pomodoro.
Reduce or avoid burnout sensations.
Looking at your never-ending to-do list may be frustrating and daunting, and working your way through it without a strategy might make you feel burned out. Regular breaks are not only encouraged by the Pomodoro Technique, but they are also built right into your plan. By making the most of your breaks when you have them, you may either lessen or prevent stress and burnout.
Cut back on procrastinating
Everybody delays things occasionally, but the Pomodoro Technique creates an atmosphere of urgency that lessens or completely eliminates procrastination. When you know you only have 25 minutes to do a task, there isn’t time to check your favourite social networking site, eat another meal, gaze out the window, or indulge in another distraction. (Don’t be too hard on yourself; we’re all guilty of these things.)
The Pomodoro Technique’s drawbacks
Certain activities need more than 25 minutes
Writing, programming, and researching are among the tasks for which the Pomodoro technique is believed to be useful. It is also helpful when you need to complete some tedious tasks, like clearing up your email or delving into certain administrative tasks. However, certain jobs are inescapably going to take longer than 25 minutes to do, so the Pomodoro Technique might not always be effective for all projects or tasks. The 25-minute timer will pause all further Pomodoro scheduling, so if you’re working on a project and are in a strong flow state, you might want to keep going through that point. You will decide if you need to keep working after the timer goes off because you know your work habits and how productive you are best.
Meetings could prevent you from following your pomodoro strategy.
Those who have complete control over their schedules may find the Pomodoro approach very helpful. However, a lot of career professionals will inevitably have meetings that come up out of the blue. Your meeting schedule may conflict with how you design your Pomodoros or may cause an interruption when you are in the middle of one.
Every time management tactic has benefits and drawbacks, and no technique can be relied upon to be universally effective. Consider trying the Pomodoro approach to see if it works for you because it is simple and free. Keep in mind that you may always modify it to fit your needs.