If procrastination is your best friend then you should read this post. Why you ask? Because today we're going to discuss a productivity technique that is one of the best techniques to cut procrastination and be all productive!
The Pomodoro technique was discovered by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s when he was a university student himself. The technique is named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer he used back then (Pomodoro= Tomato in Italian).
Ever since its discovery, this method has been adopted by millions of people, and they all swear by its effectiveness. So do I. It is effective. How much? Well, that depends from person to person. But before you start judging whether it's effective or not, have a look into what pomodoro method exactly is.
You do this 4 times, after which you can take a longer break of 15-30 minutes (Infographic below).
So you put in a total of 2 hours of work, but only 25 minutes at a time.
1. Human beings have a short attention span. It has nothing to do with where you stand in terms of productivity or procrastination. We are like that by design.
An experiment was conducted at the University of Illinois where two groups were studied for attention. Long story short, both the groups were given a 50-minute task. One group had to finish the task without taking any breaks, while the other group was given a break within that time frame. It was found that the group that did not take any break showed reduced performance over time (that is, within 50 minutes) while the group that took the break showed no decline in performance.
So, we can conclude 2 things from this experiment:
(i). Our attention doesn't even last for a frigging hour!
(ii) Taking short breaks greatly improves attention-- which is what makes this method so successful.
2. Psychologically speaking, suppose, you are planning to study for 2 hours. Now, you look at time as 2 hours and think" oh my gosh, that's too long! I have to sit for that long!". On the other hand, you look at your 1 Pomodoro and say "okay, 25 minutes, I can do this!". So, you look at the time a little bit differently. In both cases, you are going to put in 2 hours of work but 25 minutes at a time seems more doable. It's like dividing you work into smaller pieces. Except here you are dividing time.
3. You don't allow yourself to give a lot of time to one task. You limit yourself with time. It's like a deadline within your deadline. So since you are limited by the time you are more likely to finish the task within that time frame, because you know you have another task planned in the next Pomodoro or the next cycle.
1. Timer
2. Pen and a paper/notebook
....and you're ready to get started.
The first thing that you need to do is make a plan. Make a to-do list containing all the tasks you need to do. You can do this first thing in the morning or the previous night.
After you list of task is ready, you can jump on to the pomodoro method to get the tasks done.
Put an "X" in front of the task after each session of Pomodoro ends. This way you can track your progress easily. You should have 4 X's in order to complete the one cycle. Once the task is complete cut it out from the list.
Cirillo suggests you go low-tech, and use a traditional timer and a pen and a paper rather than using an app. I think this should be a judgment call, depending on where you stand on social media addiction and how easily you get tempted to check on the notifications and emails. Personally, I'm no addict, so I use the timer on my phone, but I do like to write on paper. Typing on an app is way too much work for me. So, whatever suits you, choose that.
If at the end of the task you still have time left in your Pomodoro, don't abandon it (if possible). Use the extra time to review your work and make relevant tweaks if required. You can also take a break; if that's what make you more productive for the next session.
Your focus should be on relaxing in those few minutes. This break is the time when you empty your bladder, grab water or coffee, or both. A few other things that you can do is:
1. Stretch.
2. Listen to music and walk inside your room (my personal favorite).
3. Organize your table a little bit.
4. Meditate. Yes, meditation doesn't have to be 20 minutes long always.
5. Any other small errand that doesn't require more than 5 minutes.
The thing to note here is that do not look at the progress in the last 25 minutes and do not engage in any complex task during those 5 minutes. Like I mentioned before a break of more than 10 minutes will disrupt the flow of work. So it's best to avoid complicated errands completely.
Avoid using social media, I repeat, avoid using social media in this 5-minutes break, because you know you'll risk getting trapped in the endless scrolling down game. Roger that?
I use this method for certain tasks only. For example, I always use this technique when I'm studying, or doing blog-related work. These are the two areas where I am prone to lose my concentration as both of these tasks usually requires long engagement to reach goals, and so these are the two areas where I tend to procrastinate a lot. Therefore, I perform better with a personal time-bound deadline that comes with the pomodoro method.
You don't have to use this method all day long if you don't like. You can use it to do certain tasks like I do. If you do a job where this method is applicable then you should definitely try it, and if not then no worries, use it wherever you are not able to focus, including your household chores. It's all about making you more productive, however that may be.
⦿ avoid distractions during your Pomodoro,
⦿ not engage in complicated tasks in the 5-minute break.
Try it out and see how it works for you. Let me know what are your strategies for being productive in the comments below.
One day we will be more creative, more productive, and yet more relaxed.
© Quirky Writes 2019
The Pomodoro technique was discovered by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s when he was a university student himself. The technique is named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer he used back then (Pomodoro= Tomato in Italian).
Ever since its discovery, this method has been adopted by millions of people, and they all swear by its effectiveness. So do I. It is effective. How much? Well, that depends from person to person. But before you start judging whether it's effective or not, have a look into what pomodoro method exactly is.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
It's a time management method that involves dividing time into smaller chunks with short breaks in between.
1 pomodoro= 1 session= 25 minutes + 5 minutes break.
Ideally, 1 Pomodoro lasts for 25 minutes, followed by a 5 minutes break. However, you can make your 1 Pomodoro lasting for up to 40 minutes, and break up to 10 minutes. A break of more than 10 minutes will disrupt your flow and the established concentration.
You do this 4 times, after which you can take a longer break of 15-30 minutes (Infographic below).
So you put in a total of 2 hours of work, but only 25 minutes at a time.
The reason why this technique is so successful is that:
An experiment was conducted at the University of Illinois where two groups were studied for attention. Long story short, both the groups were given a 50-minute task. One group had to finish the task without taking any breaks, while the other group was given a break within that time frame. It was found that the group that did not take any break showed reduced performance over time (that is, within 50 minutes) while the group that took the break showed no decline in performance.
So, we can conclude 2 things from this experiment:
(i). Our attention doesn't even last for a frigging hour!
(ii) Taking short breaks greatly improves attention-- which is what makes this method so successful.
2. Psychologically speaking, suppose, you are planning to study for 2 hours. Now, you look at time as 2 hours and think" oh my gosh, that's too long! I have to sit for that long!". On the other hand, you look at your 1 Pomodoro and say "okay, 25 minutes, I can do this!". So, you look at the time a little bit differently. In both cases, you are going to put in 2 hours of work but 25 minutes at a time seems more doable. It's like dividing you work into smaller pieces. Except here you are dividing time.
3. You don't allow yourself to give a lot of time to one task. You limit yourself with time. It's like a deadline within your deadline. So since you are limited by the time you are more likely to finish the task within that time frame, because you know you have another task planned in the next Pomodoro or the next cycle.
How to Get Started with the Pomodoro Technique:
The things that you need are:1. Timer
2. Pen and a paper/notebook
....and you're ready to get started.
The first thing that you need to do is make a plan. Make a to-do list containing all the tasks you need to do. You can do this first thing in the morning or the previous night.
After you list of task is ready, you can jump on to the pomodoro method to get the tasks done.
Put an "X" in front of the task after each session of Pomodoro ends. This way you can track your progress easily. You should have 4 X's in order to complete the one cycle. Once the task is complete cut it out from the list.
Avoid Distractions
If a distraction pops up and if it's not too important to attend it immediately, ignore it. Put a mark that a distraction appeared that you need to attend later on. If the distraction needs your immediate attention, discard the current Pomodoro and start a completely fresh one once you are done dealing with the distraction. So basically no breaks in between, otherwise, it won't be counted as a Pomodoro.Cirillo suggests you go low-tech, and use a traditional timer and a pen and a paper rather than using an app. I think this should be a judgment call, depending on where you stand on social media addiction and how easily you get tempted to check on the notifications and emails. Personally, I'm no addict, so I use the timer on my phone, but I do like to write on paper. Typing on an app is way too much work for me. So, whatever suits you, choose that.
If at the end of the task you still have time left in your Pomodoro, don't abandon it (if possible). Use the extra time to review your work and make relevant tweaks if required. You can also take a break; if that's what make you more productive for the next session.
What to Do in Your Breaks
It is important that you don't think about the task you are currently doing during the 5-minutes break. Neither should you engage in a very complicated task because 5 minutes flies by pretty quickly.Your focus should be on relaxing in those few minutes. This break is the time when you empty your bladder, grab water or coffee, or both. A few other things that you can do is:
1. Stretch.
2. Listen to music and walk inside your room (my personal favorite).
3. Organize your table a little bit.
4. Meditate. Yes, meditation doesn't have to be 20 minutes long always.
5. Any other small errand that doesn't require more than 5 minutes.
The thing to note here is that do not look at the progress in the last 25 minutes and do not engage in any complex task during those 5 minutes. Like I mentioned before a break of more than 10 minutes will disrupt the flow of work. So it's best to avoid complicated errands completely.
Avoid using social media, I repeat, avoid using social media in this 5-minutes break, because you know you'll risk getting trapped in the endless scrolling down game. Roger that?
My Personal Opinion
I think that this method is really great, and it really works for me. Although I do agree that it might not be a suitable method for all, and in every situation. This method helps me when I'm struggling with focus, and that usually doesn't happen when I'm at my job. In fact it wouldn't be applicable in my workplace at all.I use this method for certain tasks only. For example, I always use this technique when I'm studying, or doing blog-related work. These are the two areas where I am prone to lose my concentration as both of these tasks usually requires long engagement to reach goals, and so these are the two areas where I tend to procrastinate a lot. Therefore, I perform better with a personal time-bound deadline that comes with the pomodoro method.
You don't have to use this method all day long if you don't like. You can use it to do certain tasks like I do. If you do a job where this method is applicable then you should definitely try it, and if not then no worries, use it wherever you are not able to focus, including your household chores. It's all about making you more productive, however that may be.
Conclusion
There are many methods that help you cut procrastination, and honestly, I'm not big with using them all. I like to keep things simple. But I would say Pomodoro method is one of the bests out there. Its simplicity and effectiveness makes it a very successful tool.Remember to:
⦿ plan your tasks in advance,⦿ avoid distractions during your Pomodoro,
⦿ not engage in complicated tasks in the 5-minute break.
Try it out and see how it works for you. Let me know what are your strategies for being productive in the comments below.
Get in touch with me!
One day we will be more creative, more productive, and yet more relaxed.
-Francesco Cirillo
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© Quirky Writes 2019
Welcome to Quirky Writes. I'm Dr. Sneha. I have a passion for writing, personal growth, and knowledge; a combination of which resulted in this blog. I write about: Brain health | Mental Health and Illnesses | Emotional Health | Psychology | Personal Development | Life | Books....and anything inbetween! So, if this is your cup of tea, join me in my quest of personal growth using science. 
I love the idea of the Pomodoro Technique! I am terrible at focusing for long stretches of time so breaking things up will be a lifesaver for me!
ReplyDeleteI totally understand. I'm also not the type of person who can sit for hours and hours on a single stretch. And that's the reason why this method works for me. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteIt's the first time that I hear about Pomodoro Techique! This technique will be a lifesaver to me! I'm going to try this out
ReplyDeleteYes you should. I'm sure you'll find it useful. The best part is that it's simple: no complicated process or tools required. Thanks for stopping by!
Deleteit's amazing how our attention span has dwindled so terribly low. we used to be able to listen to three hour lectures and all day sermons but not anymore. technology is much to blame for that.
ReplyDeleteJoy at The Joyous Living
ps never heard of pomodoro before so thanks for sharing the info
I have never heard of The Pomodoro Technique. I tend to procrastinate at times. This was extremely informative. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI liked the post..I am usual to west time on my phone so the off line mode when you are working is actually a very good idea...I must try my work will maybe befits!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I had heard of this before but never really gave it too much thought. I'm so glad that it's worked for you. I think I may try this in the future. It seems like a really great way to get things done. I have a habit of pushing everything off, then having a pile of work to do, and get intimidated.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
I have always made myself take breaks but I didn't realize there was something scientific to it! This is interesting!
ReplyDeleteWithout realizing this technique had a name, I’ve utilized it quite successfully in the past. It is great that you bring this awareness! Lavern Moore
ReplyDelete