Pomodoro Technique – The most popular time management technique

The Pomodoro Technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s while he was a university student in Italy. Cirillo was struggling with managing his time and staying focused on his studies. He came up with a simple yet effective method to improve his productivity: breaking work into intervals, typically 25 minutes long, separated by short breaks. These intervals are called “pomodoros,” named after the Italian word for tomato, inspired by the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Cirillo used.

For many people, time is an enemy. We race against the clock to finish assignments and meet deadlines. The Pomodoro Technique teaches you to work with time, instead of struggling against it. A revolutionary time management system, it is at once deceptively simple to learn and life-changing to use.

The fundamentals of the Pomodoro Technique are simple yet incredibly effective.

The process underlying the Pomodoro Technique consists of 6 steps:

1. Choose a task you’d like to get done

Something big, something small, something you’ve been putting off for a million years: it doesn’t matter. What matters is that it’s something that deserves your full, undivided attention.

2. Set the Pomodoro for 25 minutes

Make a small oath to yourself: I will spend 25 minutes on this task and I will not interrupt myself. You can do it! After all, it’s just 25 minutes.

3. Work on the task until the Pomodoro rings

Immerse yourself in the task for the next 25 minutes. If you suddenly realize you have something else you need to do, write the task down on a sheet of paper.

4. When the Pomodoro rings, put a checkmark on a paper

Congratulations! You’ve spent an entire, interruption-less Pomodoro on a task.

5. Take a short break on a paper

Breathe, meditate, grab a cup of coffee, go for a short walk or do something else relaxing (i.e., not work-related). Your brain will thank you later.

6. Every 4 pomodoros, take a longer break on a paper

Once you’ve completed four pomodoros, you can take a longer break. 20 minutes is good. Or 30. Your brain will use this time to assimilate new information and rest before the next round of Pomodoros.

Learn how to work together with time, eliminate burnout, manage distractions and create a better work–life balance, using only a pen, some paper and a kitchen timer.

Reaching your goals with the Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique book is organised into six incremental goals. The objectives should be achieved in the order in which they are given here:

1. Find out how much effort an activity requires

Ever wonder where all your time goes? Wonder no more: it’s all on the page. Your Pomodoro To-Do sheet is a visual overview of the time you’ve spent on various tasks.

2. Cut down on interruptions

Usually, you can afford to take 25 minutes before calling back a friend or replying to an email. You’ll learn how to handle the inevitable interruption while staying focused on the task at hand.

3. Estimate the effort for activities

Once you’ve gotten the hang of the technique, you’ll be able to accurately predict how many Pomodoros it will take to accomplish tomorrow’s — or next month’s — tasks.

4. Make the Pomodoro more effective

While the contours of the Pomodoro are set, what you do within them can be adjusted to maximize efficiency. One way to make a Pomodoro more effective is to use the first few minutes to review what you’ve done before. Other methods are discussed in the book.

5. Set up a timetable

A timetable sets a limit, motivating you to complete a task within a set period of time. It also delineates your work time from your free time. Creating a clear timetable will allow you to enjoy your time off without worrying that you could be doing more work.

6. Define your own objectives

The Pomodoro Technique is a tool you can use to reach your own objectives. For example, a writer might realize he’s spending too much time revising, and adjust his Pomodoro timetable to allow for more brainstorming time.

How the Pomodoro Technique will change you and your team

In today’s fast-paced, time-poor environment it’s normal to want to regain some control over your day and Francesco Cirillo’s deceptively simple time management method is a proven solution.

The Pomodoro Technique offers organizations a way to develop a shared set of practices that protects the team from the frequent and aggressive pressures of time and that transforms these pressures into an opportunity to improve.

By applying the Pomodoro Technique you can manage to:

The Pomodoro Technique solutions

Over 2 million people have already used the Pomodoro Technique to transform their lives, making them more productive, more focused and even smarter.