Simple Ways to Increase Productivity - The Pomodoro Technique

Whether you have heard of the Pomodoro Technique and want to learn more, or whether you'd just like to find out what 'pomodoro' actually means because all the tomato-shaped timers didn't give it away - well, either way you've come to the right place!

What is it?

The Pomodoro Technique is a wonderfully simple time-management tool that was developed in the late 1980's by Francesco Cirillo. Using a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato ('pomodoro' is Italian for tomato - mystery solved!), he came up with the technique as a university student in an effort to improve his productivity and reduce interruptions. 

Why try it?

The Pomodoro Technique is an easy way to improve your focus and break whatever work you have into small and manageable chunks. If you have a huge work project, essay or study session lying like a mountain in front of you that you're just dreading getting started on, your salvation might lie in pomodoros! It's also great for people who tend to work or study for longer periods at a time without taking breaks, which reduces productivity and can cause de-motivating burnout.

How does it work?

There are six steps to the original technique:

1. Choose a task (or tasks) to work on.

2. Set your timer for one 'pomodoro', or 25 minutes. (One pomodoro is equal to a 25-minute work session.) 

3. Work on your task/s.

4. Stop working when the timer goes off and take a short break of 5 to 10 minutes.

5. Repeat Step 2 until you've done three pomodoros.

6. After three pomodoros, take a longer break of 20 to 25 minutes. Now start again from the top.

If you've finished your tasks before your current pomodoro is over, be sure to dedicate the remaining time to reviewing or repeating what you've done. Try and follow the rule that if a pomodoro is started, you can't stop it before it rings! Use the breaks to stretch, walk around, get a drink of water, check your phone, talk to your mother, meditate, dance around - anything that will leave you refreshed and ready for the next session.

Now, it goes without saying that you should avoid any distractions like social media during your work sessions. Avoid them like the plague until your breaks! Ideally you would use a kitchen timer (tomato shape optional) to avoid possible technology-driven distractions, but you can also use your phone's timer or check out the heaps of apps and websites dedicated to the technique. Some examples are Pomofocus and the Pomodoro Timer Lite app.

25-minute study and work sessions won't necessarily work for everyone, so don't be afraid to play around with the timing a bit to find your sweet spot. And enjoy your increased productivity!

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