In the age of social media and evolving technology, focus is often impossible. This carries into our everyday lives in many ways, but at work it can be the most prominent. Employees are given tasks, of which some can take longer to accomplish than others. However, there are some techniques to make working more effective, and the Pomodoro Technique is one of them. So what is it?
The Pomodoro Technique is about thirty years old and relies on timed intervals to train the brain into focus. The intervals are called “pomodoros.” The name comes from the Italian developer named Francesco Cirillo who used a kitchen timer that was shaped like a tomato to develop his technique. “Pomodoro” in Italian means “tomato.” The Pomodoro Technique takes six steps.
Step 1: Create a task.
Step 2: Set a timer for 25 minutes.
Step 3: Keep working on said task for the 25 minutes until the timer goes off.
Step 4: Once the timer goes off, make a checkmark on either a sheet of paper or computer document
Step 5: Take a short break in between “pomodoros” of around five minutes.
Step 6: Once your paper has four checkmarks, take a longer break and then keep going.
The key is to create short bursts of productivity and highlight actual tasks with timed periods for focus. There are many ways to make this a part of your office culture, especially if there is one large project to be done. Perhaps when working in a conference room, you and your team can utilize the Pomodoro Technique, making the checkmarks on a large dry erase board. Or you can supply your team with their own individual timers for independently working. The Pomodoro Technique has been proven to increase focus, time management, and workload. Give it a shot!