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Time in tomatoes: build productivity and focus with the Pomodoro technique
The Pomodoro Technique (developed in the late 1980s by then university student Francesco Cirillo) is beauty in simplicity — a straightforward and time-tested tool to fix your focus and get into a rhythm of action. The best part? All you need is a timer (tomato shaped or otherwise) and a to-do.
Let's dive in!
The Pomodoro Technique in detail
You've got a long list of things to do today, so pick something you're keen to focus on. An important email, a first draft, some coding, illustrations — anything.
The Pomodoro Technique is named after the famous tomato shaped kitchen timer, but using the timer on your phone, tablet, laptop or computer works just as well.
Focus on the task until the 25 minutes is up. No distractions, no checking your phone, no replying to emails (unless that's the task you're doing). Although checking twitter takes just half a minute, the break in concentration and flow wastes a lot more time.
This time is yours, so spend it how you'd like. Grab a quick coffee, check your texts, take a lap around the office.
A 'pomodoro,' is a block of time: a half hour consisting of twenty-five minutes of focus, and five of relaxation. Every four pomodoros, take a longer break - around fifteen minutes to a half-hour.
Three tips to get the most of the technique
• Larger tasks will need more time, so make sure to break them down into smaller, more manageable steps, and set a pomodoro to each of them. A newsletter to newer clients, for example, will need one pomodoro to research audience and tone, another for a first draft, one more for tweaks and improvements, and a final one for spelling and grammar.
• Similarly, smaller tasks can be 'squished:' set together in a single pomodoro. You might have three very brief emails to respond to, but also need a quick phone chat with a member of your PR team. One pomodoro for each task won't be necessary - instead, squish them together.
• It's vital to the effectiveness of the technique that, when the timer is running, your focus isn't broken. If, however, an unavoidable disruption takes place - a flash meeting or an emergency phone call - take an early five minute break and start again.