Time Management: Boost Your Productivity with the Pomodoro Technique

In my last post I shared my Top Ten Time Management Techniques. Today I want to go into more detail about one of the methods I mentioned, The Pomodoro Technique. I find this a great tool for improving my time management, lowering my stress level and boosting my productivity.

The Pomodoro Technique was devised by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s. It splits tasks into focused 25-minute sessions called ‘pomodoros’ (from the Italian word for tomato), separated by short and longer breaks.

Applying the Technique

There are six basic steps to applying The Pomodoro Technique:

(1) Decide on the task to be done.

(2) Set your timer to 25 minutes.

(3) Work exclusively on the task till the timer rings.

(4) Take a five-minute break.

(5) Every four pomodoros, take a longer break of 15 to 20 minutes.

(6) Continue this cycle as required.

Obviously you will need a timer of some description for this. Cirillo himself originally used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer, which is how the technique got its name. Cirillo recommended using a mechanical timer, as he believed the physical act of setting it primed the user to start working.

The technique is quite flexible, though, and nowadays many people use timers on their computers or smartphones instead. Obviously, if your work requires the use of a computer, it can make sense to have the timer on this as well.

There are lots of free timer programs and apps you can use. Here are a few possibilities.

Marinara Timer is a web-based app, so it will work on any computer or operating system. You can keep it open in a tab on your browser. There are three different versions: a traditional Pomodoro timer, a more flexible one where you can change the session lengths, and a simple kitchen timer. It’s very flexible, and you don’t have to install anything.

Tomato-Timer is also web-based. If you want a simple, basic Pomodoro timer, this is for you. Just open the website, click the green Start button, and 25 minutes will count down. An audio alarm will sound at the end of the period. You can enable desktop notifications as well.

Clockwork Tomato is a free Android app. Just tap it and get working. At the end of 25 minutes your phone’s alarm will go off.

Arise is available from the Apple Store for iOS/OS X users. It describes itself as an anti-procrastination app. It incorporates the Pomodoro Technique among other methods.

Who Is Pomodoro For?

The technique works especially well for people who have to produce something that has to be reviewed by others. That includes designers, programmers, and (as I can testify myself) writers and bloggers.

But it can also work well for people such as support staff, who may use their 25 minutes to work through a set of tickets, then take a short break to refresh themselves and ensure they don’t get burned out.

And people who work with their hands, such as artists, gardeners and builders, can use the method to force themselves to take a step back at regular intervals to evaluate their work, take a rest, and plan what to do next.

Why Does It Work?

There are various reasons the Pomodoro Technique works so well.

  1. It makes starting a job less daunting. At the beginning of a large project the amount to be done can appear overwhelming. This in turn creates feelings of anxiety and the urge to procrastinate. But if you divide the work up into 25-minute sessions, suddenly it appears a lot more do-able.
  2. It helps you focus on the job in hand. For 25 minutes at a time you are working on one task and nothing else. This is much more efficient than trying to multi-task, which human beings are notoriously bad at.
  3. Each pomodoro becomes a mini-challenge. Completing your 25-minute goal is rewarding and gives you a little boost. It means you can relax and enjoy your breaks more too, as you will feel that you have earned them. All of this can make the working day more enjoyable and less stressful.
  4. It forces you to take regular breaks. Working in the same position (e.g. sitting at a keyboard) for long periods is bad for your health. Using the Pomodoro Technique, you can use the short and longer breaks to move around, get a drink, or even take a breath of fresh air.

More Tips

  • The rules of the Pomodoro Technique aren’t written in stone. If you get into a good flow, you may sometimes want to continue beyond the 25-minute limit.
  • Equally, you might find that 25-minute sessions are too long and you work better in 20-minute bursts. Experiment to find what works best for you.
  • Try to avoid getting interrupted during a pomodoro. If someone asks you a question, explain that you are in the middle of something and ask if you can get back to them in 10 minutes.
  • If you have to break off a pomodoro due to an unavoidable interruption, cancel it and start a new one (for a full 25 minutes) as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

The Pomodoro Technique works well for many people, but not all. Some jobs/activities clearly aren’t suitable for it, and others may not be all the time. In practice many users find they can only use it for part of the day, before other demands on their time make it impracticable. Often those periods are their most productive of the day, though!

I wish you every success applying the Pomodoro Technique. I hope it helps you manage your time better, reduce your stress level and boost your productivity!

As always, if you have any comments or questions, please do post them below.



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