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Do you struggle to stay focused on the task at hand?
Does even the strongest motivational quote or video fail to help you sustain the momentum and make the most of your day?
If your answer to these questions is yes, know that you are not alone. Most of us find ourselves in such situations. Productivity hacks, creating daily routines, or making resolutions fail to get us going.
However, what we really need to streamline our focus is the right technique.
The Pomodoro Technique is a time-tested and convenient process that can help you avoid distractions and improve your productivity.
The Pomodoro Technique For Increasing Productivity
Before we delve into the process and how it works, we need to know: what is the Pomodoro Technique?
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method aimed at improving an individual’s concentration level and focus. It is based on the idea that intense focus needs to be punctuated by short, relaxing breaks to keep the mind sharp and to prevent monotony from creeping in.
The Pomodoro Method empowers users to complete tasks with efficiency and minimal mental fatigue. It aims to make work joyful and get you through your workday without losing focus.
In the 1980s, an Italian man called Francesco Cirillo came up with the Pomodoro Technique. He came up with the method while researching ways in which he could boost his own productivity as a university student.
While there are numerous hacks and tips aimed at improving one’s time management skills, the Pomodoro Method has become popular because it is a modular process and very easy to learn.
How The Pomodoro Technique Works
Here is how the Pomodoro Technique works:
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The first step to successfully implementing the Pomodoro Technique is identifying a specific project or task you wish to accomplish
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It could be writing a novel, finishing your office work on time, practicing batting in the nets, or anything else that matters to you
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The popular way of implementing the Pomodoro Technique is to use a tomato-shaped (‘pomodoro’ is Italian for tomato) timer and set it for 25 minutes. Once the timer is set, the user gets down to work without any distraction for the next 25 minutes. Every such 25-minute session is known as a ‘Pomodoro’
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After each 25-minute work set, the user takes a five-minute break to either walk, stretch and relax in whichever manner they choose
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This cycle of working non-stop for 25 minutes and taking a five-minute break is then repeated four times back-to-back
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Once the four sessions are completed, it is recommended that one takes a more extended break which could be a nap, a meal, or any other activity that refreshes the mind
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Each Pomodoro is recorded by marking a tick or an X in the user’s notebook
Benefits Of The Pomodoro Technique
The convenience offered by the Pomodoro Method has several benefits. For instance, you can do some valuable work in a 25-minute session. Yet, each session is not long enough for you to begin to feel bored or drained.
Typically, we end up working for hours at a stretch. For instance, our office hours are usually divided into pre-lunch and post-lunch sessions. This habit of working continuously for several hours causes monotony and a drop in intensity which reflects in the quality of the work output.
Productivity-related research and our own experience indicate that it is not possible to maintain the same level of intensity of work for eight hours of non-stop work. By integrating the Pomodoro Method into our schedule, we can divide our workday into several small sessions of high-productivity interspersed with breaks, naps, and meals.
By consistently deploying the Pomodoro Method of working, you can begin to see a marked improvement in the quantity and quality of your work output.
Conclusion
The Pomodoro Technique is especially beneficial for boosting productivity and overcoming distractions. The process can be implemented in various work areas and is particularly suitable for jobs requiring intense sessions of creativity or mental focus such as writing, painting, designing, coding, or studying.
It is ideal for people who work in monotonous jobs that require repetition of the same actions over the course of the day. Harappa Education’s Practicing Excellence course is a good way to master this process as it has a separate section dedicated to the Pomodoro Technique. You can enroll for this online course and experience for yourself a transformation in your efficiency and productivity.
In today’s world of distractions and competing pressures on your time, the ability to focus is an absolute boon and the Pomodoro Technique will help you master it!
Explore topics such as What is Time Management, Importance of Time Management & Eisenhower Matrix from our Harappa Diaries section, and lead on a path of self-development.
