If you’re familiar with the Italian language, or even Italian food, you might have heard the term pomodoro, which means tomato! You might be thinking, what does a tomato have to do with learning? The creator of the Pomodoro Technique, Francesco Cirillo, developed this time management strategy with a tomato-shaped timer! It’s climbed in fame ever since. We’ll explain what this method is and how you can start using it today.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
As mentioned, the technique itself doesn’t involve food at all, but you will need a timer. This is a great way to break up a longer, more daunting task into manageable pieces. In addition, if you notice that you get easily distracted, this could be the technique for you. It helps you get your work done in a holistic way. The steps to try out the Pomodoro Technique are:
- Identify your task: This might seem obvious, but you won’t get anything done if you don’t know exactly what you’re trying to accomplish. If you’re working on a larger project, just focus on one part of it. This is also a good time to break that task into a step-by-step list so you know what to move on to once you finish the first part.
- Set your timer for 25 minutes: Even if you think you can “power through” and work longer, trust the process.
- Work on your task with no distractions: If you struggle with staying off of your phone while working or succumbing to other distractions, you could put your phone in another room. Also, if you have a smart watch, it’s a good idea to take it off or put it on Do Not Disturb so you don’t get interrupted.
- When the timer rings, 5 minute break: You earned it! Take this time to recharge.
- After 4 sequential 30-minute segments, take a longer break: Of course, if your task is done after less time, that’s great! If you have more to do, take a longer 15-30 minute break.