The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is widely regarded as an extremely effective way to minimize the effect of distractions and maximize productivity. The technique, named after the Italian word for "tomato", was invented in the 1980s by Francesco Cirillo, when he began attempting to increase his productivity by breaking his tasks into ten-minute intervals using a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato. After discovering how his productivity increased when he created specific time intervals for. intense focus on tasks, he eventually developed his Pomodoro Technique. The steps for implementing the Pomodoro Technique are as follows:

1. Decide on a task to be completed

2. Set a timer for one "Pomodoro": 25 minutes

3. Work on the task until the timer is up

4. When the timer is up, check off that Pomodoro

5. Take a short break after you’ve completed one Pomodoro

6. After four Pomodoros, you can take a long break (20-30 minutes)

While these instructions may seem very specific, and not exactly realistic for every task one must complete, a modified Pomodoro technique is realistic and can be beneficial when used correctly. The philosophy behind the Pomodoro technique centers around the fact that human beings have very short attention spans, which is why the time intervals are so short. It acknowledges that it is impossible to be productive while watching a movie or trying to focus on anything besides the work, which is why it requires the Pomodoros be a time of complete focus. However, through its design, the Pomodoro Technique ensures that instead of taking twice as long completing a task while being distracted constantly, a person is extremely productive, enough that they are able to take breaks frequently and still make any deadline they have.

Even if someone does not follow the specific instructions of the Pomodoro Technique, as long as they are able to eliminate distractions and work productively, and plan breaks accordingly, they would be able to reap the benefits of the method. I suggest simply setting a timer on your phone for this, or, if you don’t want to constantly be readjusting the length of your timers, there are plenty of free apps that will set Pomodoro timers for you. Good luck!