Finding the recipe for effective time management is undoubtedly a huge challenge to tackle. Staying on task and focusing for large amounts of time can be difficult for some people, if you are one of them, you’re not alone! It is perfectly okay and common if you struggle with productivity.
I have found that a popular yet effective recipe is The Pomodoro Technique🍅.
(Click here to use the PomoFocus to apply in your daily life!)
Thinking in tomatoes rather than hours!
Check it out to see if it works for you!
I recommend trying it out if you…
Have lots of open-ended work that could take an unlimited amount of time (studying for an exam, research project, writing an essay/report, etc.)
Find yourself to be easily distracted, which results in getting little to no work done.
Overestimate or underestimate yourself in terms of how much you can complete within a certain time
Table of contents
1. What is the Pomodoro Technique🍅?
2. How do you use it?
3. What makes it effective?
4. Extra tips (from self-experience)
1. What is the Pomodoro Technique?
Created by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, this technique intends to increase productivity in work and study. It consists of splitting work time into 25-minute intervals, with a short break (5 minutes) between each.
An interval is called a ‘Pomodoro’ (“tomato” in Italian, university student Cirillo used to use a tomato-shaped timer from the kitchen, hence the name.)
This simple technique is intended to help your mind get into the “workflow zone” and maintain it.
2. How do you use the Pomodoro timer?
(Taken from pomofocus.io)
Add tasks to work on today
Set estimate pomodoros (1 pomodoro = 25min of work) for each tasks (e.g 4 pomodoros to study for a test)
Select a task to work on
Start the timer and focus on the single task for 25 minutes
When the alarm rings, take a break for 5 minutes
Repeat at least 3-5 pomodoros and take a longer break before beginning another round.
Repeat as many pomodoros as you like to complete your tasks!🍅
This technique also has 3 rules to reach the utmost effectiveness:
1. Break down big projects into small steps
If there is a big project that requires more than 4 pomodoros, then dividing it into small, practical steps will not only relieve the stress of a big project but also ensure steady progress to completion. (e.g Writing an essay: 1 or 2 pomodoros to write an introduction, 3 or 4 to write the main body, and 1 or 2 to write the conclusion.)
2. Combine small tasks
If any simple tasks can take less than one Pomodoro, combine them in one session. (e.g writing the grocery list, signing a check, responding to an email, etc.)
3. Once the timer is set, it must ring on time
Once a Pomodoro is set, it cannot be stopped. Focus on completing the task and avoid any external distractions. Such as leaving your phone in another room to avoid distracting notifications during work time.
3. What makes this technique so effective?
Making it easier to start the workflow
According to research, laziness and lack of self-control have little to do with procrastination. Instead, we put things off to avoid negative feelings.
Especially, dealing with an important big project is overwhelming and uncomfortable, which leads us to resort to scrolling through social media or playing a game to make us feel comfortable temporarily.
Using the Pomodoro Technique to break down huge projects into steps makes it less overwhelming and brings us to start our workflow easier. Trying to sit down and work for 25 minutes to complete small goals is easier to face than going head-on with a huge project all at once.
Step by step - take it one Pomodoro at a time 🍅
I. ~Fight distractions~
Once we stop, we must start over, and starting over is harder than continuing
From "Better than Before" by Gretchen Rubin
Getting interrupted while you’re in the zone is the most inconvenient, as getting back into the zone is extremely difficult. Even when you get back to work, the impulse to keep checking those notifications or emails keeps poking at your attention.
The Pomodoro Technique enables you to avoid all distractions for a short time, yet also helps to train your attention. Each Pomodoro is dedicated to one goal and each break helps you reset your brain and attention to get back on task.
II. Tackling planning fallacy - tendency to underestimate the time needed (optimism bias)
A Pomodoro is a unit of time that can help you plan and measure more realistically. This technique can help you plan ahead, allocating goals and tasks into pomodoros so you can avoid underestimating or overestimating the time needed to complete a task. Plus, it can help you reflect on your work habits as well as plan your days more efficiently and effectively.
Note: If you log in to Pomofocus it can help you track your progress through the week on a certain task, that way, you can reflect and note how to plan future projects.
✅~~BONUS~~
Some extra tips when using Pomodoro (from personal experience!)
Avoid getting on your phone during break times
I have found myself going on my phone a couple of times during the break times and it did not do me justice, it ended up draining my energy further as I had to switch my attention to whatever was on my phone and back to my work again. Instead, I find just getting up for a stretch or walking around for a bit during the break helps me feel more refreshed to get back into work. Additionally, giving my eyes a rest from the screen.
You don’t have to stick with 25 minutes
I’ve heard some people have played around with their work intervals depending on their attention span or work. Some people have extended it to 50-minute work intervals and some have shortened it to 10 minutes. I find myself comfortable with 25, but there are occasions when I feel like I could do more. Do whatever fits you!
Thank you for reading, I hope you found it useful!
Time management is a lifelong thing to master,
step by step we can make it!
You got this!✌️
Short motivational video: NEVER GIVE UP!!
Bibliography:
Scroggs, Laura. “The Pomodoro Technique — Why It Works & How To Do It.” Todoist, n.a.
Accessed April 12, 2022.
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