The Pomodoro Technique: What Is It & When to Use It
You know that feeling when you’re so overloaded with work it’s actually hard to get started?
(like me writing this post?!)
Here’s something to try: the Pomodoro technique. It’s not an app – though there are apps – but a way to break up time so that you can concentrate on a task long enough to make headway.
The Concept
The Pomodoro technique was created sometime in the ’80s and named after that little tomato timer your parents had in the kitchen. The idea is that you should be able to work at least 25 minutes uninterrupted without actually disrupting service (so an okay amount of time not to respond to email). Then you give your brain a break for a few and then get back to it.
There’s a whole methodology to this (a book, as well), but essentially the method breaks down like this:
That’s really it. You concentrate for 25 minutes then get a 5-minute break. Do that a few more times, take a longer break.
The Reality
Using the Pomodoro technique is not going to open up a whole new way of working (I wish).
I’ve been looking into task and time management tools for a long time, and I’ve found that all methods work on some level…just not all the time. There is something to knowing how multiple methods work, however; when one doesn’t work, you can use another.
For example, I would choose to use the Pomodoro technique when working on an RFP (Request For Proposal). You know how it is – you can spend HOURS writing and editing these things. Breaking up a time-intensive project into chunks where you’re actually concentrating and not thinking about how many hours you have left to go…seems more manageable!
However, I don’t use Pomodoro daily – I have other methods I like better, or I’m just cranking out work. I use it more for the times I get stuck or have things I need to work on for long periods of time.
The Apps
I mean, you can Google “Pomodoro” on your own, I’m sure. 😂 And to be honest, I don’t use the technique often enough to be an expert on apps available, but I do want to mention a few.
The Pomodoro®️ Technique
Yes, the developer of Pomodoro has an online app. The link takes you to the homepage so you can read about the whooooooooooooole methodology if you so choose (maybe Pomodoro it while you’re reading). The timer works a bit differently from others, which isn’t surprising considering it’s the original source.
Forest
Forest makes me want to use this technique more often. It’s only on mobile (Apple and Android) – which is usually a dealbreaker for me – but omg you grow TREEEEEEEEEEEES. So, it’s a gamification app for procrastinators who like trees. (All of us?)
BUT…it’s $1.99.
Integration with a Manager or Tracker
That’s not the name of a tool, of course.
Beyond the basic Pomodoro timer app, there are applications that also manage the tasks or time portion of tracking your workload. The one that comes to mind is TickTick, which is a project management tool. It’s got all the awesome things one needs to manage a project, but it also has a built-in Pomo timer.
TickTick doesn’t track the time, it just counts down for you. There are other tools out there that have the added component of time tracking, but I skipped the research on that. 😉
