What is the Pomodoro technique and how can you get started with it?

If you have ever struggled to get that task done in the time you said you would or can never stop putting your phone down in between writing that dissertation, then you are just like me.

Productivity can be difficult to achieve for reasons such as but not limited to lack of sleep, stress, distractions, financial worries, health problems etc and while it is not a set target one can always meet, there are ways to ramp up your efficiency when it comes to time and task management.

Over the years many techniques have sprung up with varying effectiveness and accompanying limitations. Some of these are;

1. To-Do Lists:
   We are all too familiar with the several note-taking apps where our to-do list go to die. While helpful in staying organized, they can be overwhelming if not managed correctly (I’ve been there!).
2. Eisenhower Matrix:
   The Eisenhower matrix prioritizes tasks by urgency and importance which is very useful in specific scenarios like working in a team. A potential downside of this however is that it may not always address time management directly.
3. Getting Things Done (GTD):
   We all love our acronyms and GTD is one of them. This framework presents a comprehensive system for managing tasks and projects but can be complex and time-consuming to implement.
   

The Pomodoro technique created in the 20th century but only popularised in recent times proposes effective solutions to these constraints.

Time Management Technique Not Fruit

Developed in the late 1980s by Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro technique named Italian word for ‘tomato’ is a time management technique that uses a timer, traditionally 25 minutes, to break work to be done into ‘intervals’ followed by short breaks.

Each interval is referred to as a Pomodoro with inspiration drawn from Cirillo’s tomato-shaped kitchen in his university days.

You may be wondering who can use this technique and the answer is literally anyone! Anyone who has identified that they get a little carried away with distractions and wants to get better at their productivity and time management.

The versatility and ease of use of this technique makes it work for the specific use cases;

1. Students: This can help improve focus and retention while studying.
2. Professionals: With multiple projects and varying deadlines, the Pomodoro technique helps to enhance productivity and manage workloads.
3. Freelancers: As entrepreneurs working in a non-traditional setting, this helps to maintain structure in your workday.
4. Writers and Creatives: The Pomodoro Technique boosts creativity and can overcome writer's block by providing structured intervals that balance focused work with frequent breaks, fostering mental rejuvenation and sustained inspiration.

Why this technique works

The Pomodoro technique has caught on like wild fire and for the right reasons such as its effectiveness and simplicity but it goes beyond that.

This technique is said to be back by science and is shown to be effective due to the fact that individuals are encouraged to take little breaks between intervals.

According to a study by the University of Illinois, prolonged focus on a single task can lead to mental fatigue, reducing productivity and increasing errors. By breaking work into manageable intervals, the Pomodoro Technique helps to circumvent this problem, allowing the brain to reset during short breaks and maintain a high level of focus.

We all have to start from somewhere, if you are a beginner with the Pomodoro technique, here are 4 tips to take you from newbie to pro;

1. Customize Intervals: While the traditional Pomodoro interval is 25 minutes, adjusting the length based on personal preference and task complexity can enhance effectiveness. If you want to take it slow(er), try a 15 or 20-minute interval and go from there.
2. Eliminate Distractions: One of the key ways to make this work is by creating a distraction-free environment to maintain focus during each Pomodoro.
3. Track Progress: Use apps like Aago or tools to track your progress and evaluate productivity. For more information on how to get started wth Aago, read the next section.
4. Reflect and Adjust: We are only as good as the learnings we take from our experiences. Regularly review and adjust your approach based on what works best for you and you are off to a great start!

To get started with the Pomodoro technique read this article.