Just turn on Facebook, post on Instagram, go through your timeline, reply to a message, your mind wanders, just one more cup of coffee and it's off again for half an hour... Yes, what exactly? And that's how your to-do's pile up and that gives a mountain with work and stress. Do you recognize that (unfortunately)? Then read on quickly!
One of the techniques that I use when I have a lot on the schedule in my daily work is time management classic: the Pomodoro technique. This handy trick will help you finish tasks and stay as focused as possible. Moreover, it also helps you to stick to your schedule. You only have x number of parts of 25 minutes in one (working) day.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
The Pomodoro technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. This world-renowned expert in time management and organizational productivity has already helped millions of people worldwide with his Pomodoro technique.
Francesco developed this technique with a kitchen timer in the shape of a tomato, (hence the name 'pomodoro', Italian for tomato). With this technique you set an alarm for 25 minutes, a time frame in which you have to concentrate on a task. But a smartphone also does the trick, of course.
The 25 minutes of hard and concentrated work are then followed by a three-minute break, after which a new 25-minute period can be started, after the fourth time you take a longer break. And that's it!
Why does the Pomodoro technique work?
It's a fact that it works, but why does it work? The Pomodoro time management technique ensures that you:
- deals smarter with (internal and external) distractions
- prevents procrastination • stays more focused on your task
- have more overview in your planning
- get more satisfaction from your work
- work in a more structured way
- simplify complex tasks
- develop a better understanding of how much time tasks take
- and you easily motivate yourself
Do you want this too? Logically. Try the Pomodoro technique and see what it can do for you and your work. Getting started is not difficult.
This is how you apply the Pomodoro technique
The technique consists of five steps:
- decide what task you are going to do
- set your smartphone to 25 minutes
- work on the chosen task until the alarm goes off
- take a short break of three minutes
- after every fourth 'pomodoro' you take a longer break (15 to 30 minutes)
TIP : There are several Pomodoro apps available for both iOS and Android. Online you can use this timer, among other things: Tomato-timer.com
🍅 You can also buy a very real Pomodoro tomato kitchen timer. Place it near your workplace and so you never forget to apply that technique.
