Managing our time is often one of the most difficult tasks we have today. Distractions and interruptions can constantly occur, especially in this age of instant communication. Emails, phone calls, Facebook posts, Tweets and so many other diversions can make it extremely hard to stay focused on the task at hand and complete the work that you know has to be done.
One time management method that has worked well for me is the Pomodoro Technique, invented by Francisco Cirillo in the 1980s. Named for the Italian word for the tomato-shaped kitchen timer, the Pomodoro Technique breaks down work into 25-minute intervals separated by 5-minute breaks. The theory behind the Pomodoro Technique is that focusing intently on a designated task for specific periods of time, while taking short, scheduled breaks in between, both minimizes distractions and prevents burnout from working too long on any one thing. It also helps eliminate multi-tasking, which has been shown to lower the overall quality of work produced. The soft ticking that comes with most Pomodori apps, including the Pomodoro timer itself, acts as a sort of white noise that helps keep you focused on the task at hand.
There are six basic steps to implementing the technique:
- Choose a task to be done and decide to devote yourself fully to it for 25 minutes with no distractions.
- Set the pomodoro timer to 25 minutes and make a promise to yourself to stick to your task.
- Work on the task until the timer rings. If, during that time, you learn of or remember something else that needs to be done, jot it down on a piece of paper so that you can come back to it later.
- When the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper and congratulate yourself!
- Take a short break (3-5 minutes) – walk around, have a glass of water, meditate, or do something else relaxing (no reading email!)
- After every four “pomodori,” take a longer break of 20–30 minutes. This gives your brain a chance to assimilate new information and rest before the next set of pomodori.
To learn more about how the Pomodoro Technique works, visit their website here. Think about all the other ways you can also use this method to accomplish a long-delayed goal: get a household chore done, clean out your closet, have your kids clean up their rooms (followed by a fun break time), pay your bills, file a stack of papers – whatever you can think of that you have been putting off! It’s only 25 minutes – you can do it!
1 thought on “Using a tomato to manage your time”
This is so good to know! I bought my daughter a kitchen timer to use in similar fashion, but it makes such a horrible, startling noise, she doesn’t want to use it (and I cannot blame her at all). I’m going to buy this timer instead and right away. Thanks Penny!