Get More Done with the Pomodoro Technique

Being productive is not about powering through, but planning appropriately. It is hard to concentrate for extended periods of time without a break.

Unless you are a robot, we all need breaks. Everyone gets tired, and less productive. When you get tired your ability to focus on the task at hand suffers.

Everyone’s different in the number and amount of work breaks needed. Some need frequent breaks while others only need breaks after a few hours. It depends on how much you enjoy working, your ability to concentrate, and a few personal factors.

One productivity technique that helps me maintain my focus for longer periods of time is the Pomodoro Technique.

Pomodoro means “tomato” in Italian, so essentially it is a tomato technique. The name for this technique comes from the kitchen timer that Francesco Cirillo used.

He designed this technique in the 1980s while attending University in Italy. Even though it is not new, it has not been until the last decade or so that it became popular as a productivity tool.

Here’s how it works:

1. Plan and prioritize the tasks that you need to complete today, by writing them down.
2. Set a timer for 25 minutes. Start working on a task, or a group of similar tasks. You should separate larger tasks into smaller multiple sessions.
3. Work until the timer finishes.
4. Take a five-minute break. You have just completed one Pomodoro.
5. Repeat this process four times.
6. After the fourth Pomodoro take a longer break, about 15-20 minutes.

The Pomodoro website has many resources on how to master this technique. You should see noticeable improvements in your productivity almost immediately. Mastery of the technique should take only 7-20 days.

One of the keys to the technique is the timer. You can either buy a Pomodoro timer or just use an online timer. I use both. I have a simple kitchen timer on my desk that I set to 25 minutes.

I have also installed the Chrome app FlowTime that embeds a timer within the browser.

I recommend you give the Pomodoro Technique a try for at least a few days to see if it will help increase your productivity.

What productivity tools and/or techniques do you find most helpful? Let me know in the comment section below.