The Pomodoro: A simple technique to manage time better

The Pomodoro Technique is a popular time management strategy developed by entrepreneur and author Francesco Cirillo. The name was inspired by the tomato-shaped timer he used as a student to get more work done in less time.

The technique breaks any task into small, manageable chunks of 25-minute intervals (known as Pomodoros). It helps to boost your productivity by maintaining your focus while also keeping you motivated through regular breaks.

All you need to get started is a timer. Choose a task you need to get done. Set the timer for 25 minutes and work on the task – strictly uninterrupted – until the timer goes off. Then take a five-minute break. (Take a longer break after every four Pomodoros.)

If your mind turns to other tasks during the Pomodoro (e.g. booking tickets), simply keep a note of it on a list labeled Unplanned & Urgent Activities. You can tend to items on this list during your breaks or even assign them to a Pomodoro of their own.

When the timer sounds, mark an X beside the activity on your to-do list. You’re not allowed to keep going “just a little bit longer”. The Pomodoro is an indivisible unit. There are no halves or quarters. If a Pomodoro is definitively disrupted, it has been rendered void.

If, say, you’re interrupted by a colleague or a phone call, inform the person that you’re busy working on something, quickly negotiate a time to reschedule (e.g. in 10 minutes), add it to your Unplanned & Urgent Activities, then follow-through once your Pomodoro is complete.

Keep a spreadsheet that tracks how many Pomodoros it takes you to get through the tasks on each day’s to-do list. Over time, this data allows you to accurately predict how many Pomodoros will be required to take care of any future task or to-do list.

If a task takes more than five to seven Pomodoros to complete, break it down into smaller parts. This will simplify whatever you’re working on. If a task takes less than one Pomodoro, combine it with something else or use the remaining time to review your work.

Set a timetable that leaves enough room to recuperate. Leisure refuels the mind. Altering the timetable with shortcuts or extensions will lead to fatigue and/or poor productivity. When the timetable ends, your work ends. The timetable always overrides the Pomodoro.

Completing one interrupted Pomodoro is a good start. The number of Pomodoros matters less than the pathway to consistency. Remember: you’re not competing with time. Awareness is the objective. Time is just a tool. With each step, your ability to manage it productively enhances.