As you probably know, I'm always willing to try new things to improve my time management and increase my productivity. Two weeks ago I decided to try one new technique called the Pomodoro Technique. I first came across this technique few years ago and now I decided I will give it a second chance. I'm also writing this specific article using the Pomodoro Technique and I'm currently in the middle of the first Pomodoro of the task "Write a blog post about Pomodoro Technique".
A man who dares waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life. ~Charles Darwin
The Pomodoro Technique was coined by Francesco Cirillo when he was a university student in Rome and like most of us not satisfied with his low productivity. After a long search to improve his study habits he once decided to try to seriously study for 10 minutes and track the time with a kitchen timer shaped like a pomodoro (the Italian for tomato).
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
The Pomodoro Technique is a really simple time management method that can be learnt in a few minutes. It looks very much like Timeboxing which is a time management technique that limits the time during which a task is accomplished. With time-boxing, you decide on a specific period of time, during which you work exclusively on one specific task.
All you need is is the following:
Pencil
Kitchen timer
To Do Today Sheet - list of activities planned for today
Activity Inventory Sheet - backlog of all upcoming activities
Record Sheet - track of all your past work
Now that we have all the things needed we can check the basic rules of the technique. The concept is really simple, if you have an overwhelming number of tasks you should simply choose one and get started.
Choose one task from your from your To Do Today Sheet. The list of today's activities must be prepared at the start of each day from the the list of upcoming activities on Activity Inventory Sheet.
Set the Pomodoro to 25 minutes. The Pomodoro is indivisible, there are no half or quarter Pomodoros.
Work on the task until the Pomodoro rings, then put a check on your sheet of paper. You should protect the Pomodoro against internal and external interruptions because if the Pomodoro is interrupted definitively it's considered void. Remember, if a Pomodoro begins, it has to ring.
Take a short break. When the Pomodoro rings, take a brake for 3-5 minutes. This brake gives you the time to "disconnect" from your work and do something good for your health. Every 4 Pomodoros take a longer break. After completing 4 Pomodoros take a 15-30 minutes break. During this period you can check emails or get some coffee.
Cut down on interruptions. You should enhance your focus and concentration by cutting down on interruptions because Pomodoro can't be interrupted. You should be very strict with protecting the Pomodoro and systematically deal with internal and external interruptions. If a Pomodoro is interrupted definitely it should be considered void.
Time is the scarcest resource; and unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed. ~Peter F. Drucker
I decided to use the Pomodoro Technique for writing blog articles also in the future. And, by the way, it took me 6 Pomodoros to finish this article.
