We all live busier lives now than ever before. We are constantly “on” thanks to social media, longer working hours and the list goes on. There never seems to be enough time and our to-do lists just get longer and longer by the day.
This can be very frustrating, demoralising and can lead to feeling overwhelmed, stressed and in the worst case scenario burn-out. I used to constantly feel overwhelmed and I often still do. But I found a few simple time management techniques and tools that help me to stay focused on the task at hand. Thereby, I’m more productive and as a result get a sense of accomplishment and motivation. One of those techniques I frequently lean on is the Pomodoro Method.
Origin of the Pomodoro Method
This simple and effective time management technique was developed in the 1980s by Francesco Cirillo in Italy. He used a tomato-shaped timer to time himself and named his technique after the tomato, which is in Italian pomodoro.
The Pomodoro Method is so simple to follow, anyone can do it. As it’s customisable, it’s a great time management technique that can be adapted to anyone’s focus and attention span as well as available time.
How does it work?
The Pomodoro Method is about breaking down your work into manageable time chunks of 15 – 30 min. These are also called intervals. You complete one set, take a short break and then work on the next set. I love this technique, because you can choose the time intervals that work best for you in terms of your concentration and focus span as well as available time to hand. I work best in 25 min intervals, but maybe you lose concentration after 15 min. Then pick 15 min as your interval.
You work for let’s say 25 min without interruptions, then take a short 5 min break. This is called one Pomodori. Complete four Pomodori and then take a longer break for about 15 – 30 min.
Why does this technique work so well?
I lose focus very easily. I get distracted by all sorts of things such as social media, the squirrels outside in the trees, email notifications that pop up and so on.
But when I use the Pomodoro Method and time myself to complete one task in a specific amount of time, I see the results and complete my task faster, because I stay focused.
This technique works because I know I don’t have to work on that one particular task forever. I know there is an end insight to that task and that is after 25 min. Once I set the timer that task gets all my attention and I have the motivation to power through, because it’s only for 25 min.
The Pomodoro Method moreover is easy to learn and implement and you can use it for any task and from anywhere. The balance between work and breaks is just enough for you not to lose concentration and getting some rest to reset your brain and get a cup of coffee or go to the loo.
Task examples
You can use the Pomodoro Method for any task(s), not just work related once.
Here are some examples of tasks I use the Pomodoro Method for as inspiration:
- Flat cleaning
- Website translations for work
- Writing blog and Instagram posts
- Brainstorming sessions
- Decluttering
- Reading a book
- Replying to emails
Go ahead and give the Pomodoro Method a go. See for yourself how your focus improves and your tasks get ticked of your to-do list faster.
If you found this post on The Best Tip To Manage Your Time Effectively helpful, you might enjoy reading my post Imagine What You Can Do In 15 Minutes.
And lastly, don’t forget to sign up to my 30 Day Productivity Challenge inside the Freebie Library!
Get the challenge with easy to follow and implement prompts so you can take daily action – one prompt for every day of the month that will boost your productivity without you feeling like it’s too much or overwhelming.
