This is How the Pomodoro Technique Boosted My Productivity
On your mark, get set…go!
Today’s post is going to show you how to be more productive and focused when getting work done using a method called the Pomodoro technique. Better yet, I am going to try to attempt to write this article using the Pomodoro technique – so, hopefully, it makes sense to you!
Before I get to today’s post, I should probably list out my top 3 tasks for today.
Hang on, I need to set my timer for 25 minutes and hit start, so I can start working on my first Pomodoro.
Introduction – Pomodoro #1
Usually here at Prime Your Pump, we take tools, methods and philosophies from business and apply them to improving yourself. This post will be no different, but instead of the usual corporate arena, we are going to mimic a technique used in a different type of business…athletics.
More specifically we are going to take a technique used by athletes to train their bodies for competition and apply it to you getting more stuff done in your life. By the way, it’s a technique you can use in your own personal fitness as well!
First, Let’s Discuss Interval Training – Pomodoro #1
Interval training is a type of training where the athlete alternates periods of high-intensity training with periods of low-intensity training or rest periods. So, for example, alternating sprints with walking or jogging, alternating rowing at a fast pace with rowing at a slower pace, alternating cycling at a fast pace with cycling at a slower pace.
The high-intensity work periods can be various lengths of time, as can the low-intensity rest periods. Each high-intensity work period followed by a low-intensity rest period counts as one repetition – the number of repetitions can vary as well.
Interval training has many benefits: it works your heart, it burns more calories than steady state cardio, and it improves both your aerobic and anaerobic conditioning – to name just a few.
Ok, time’s up, that’s my first Pomodoro done!
Time to put an X beside my first task. I’m not done yet, I’m just marking off my first Pomodoro as completed.
Time for a quick 5-minute break before I start my second Pomodoro. Let me get up and walk around a bit and grab a glass of water; hydration is key!
Ok, I’m back and ready to start writing again for my 2nd Pomodoro. Let me just reset the timer to 25 minutes and hit start!
Here we go…Pomodoro 2
How I Use Interval Training – Pomodoro #2
Ironically, I thought of this post while doing intervals on the bike at the gym. If you read my post on how I got my six-pack, you already know I am a big fan of intervals for getting lean and staying in shape. There are a few ways I use intervals in my training regimen just to switch things up:
Bike – go hard for 15 seconds and a higher tension, then back off for 45 at a lower tension, repeat for 12-15 minutes.
Sprints – I alternate between 200 yards x 8 reps with 2 minutes of rest in between, 100 yards x 12 reps with 1 minute of rest in between or 40 yards x 20 reps and use my walk back to the start as my rest.
Stairs – sprint up 15 times and walk down to rest.
The question is, is there an equivalent method that you can use to be more productive in your day-to-day life? That is, can you go hard and do focused work for a period-of-time, then rest your mind for a bit?
The answer is a resounding…YES!
Getting Distracted – Pomodoro #2
Many of us have a hard time staying focused and on task. There are so many distractions these days – meetings, social media, cell phones, people – that it is really challenging to get focused work done. It’s as if our brains are so used to distractions that it’s almost like we embrace them.
Problem is this – despite the distractions, we still need to get a fixed amount of work done every day, which means that we end up working longer hours than we need to.
The sucky part is that we aren’t getting paid for those extra hours – they are known as uncompensated overtime.
Damn the phone is ringing…I need to let it go to voicemail as you cannot be interrupted when working on a Pomodoro. Sorry, Mom – Happy Birthday by the way!
Ok, time’s up!
So, that’s my second Pomodoro done! Time to put another X beside my first task, I’m still not done, I’m just marking off my second Pomodoro as completed.
Time for another quick 5-minute break before I start my third Pomodoro. Let me get down and do some crunches…
I’m back and ready to start writing again for my 3rd Pomodoro. Let me just reset the timer to 25 minutes one more time and hit start!
Ok, here we go…Pomodoro 3…
Using Intervals to Block Out Distractions – Pomodoro #3
This is where we can use a form of interval training to block out distractions to get stuff done and reduce the amount of uncompensated overtime we are working.
I am going to teach you an interval-like method for productivity where you break down a task into smaller time intervals to make focused progress on it.
Introducing…the Pomodoro Technique – Pomodoro #3
In it’s most basic form, the Pomodoro technique alternates 25 minutes of focused work with 5-minute breaks. You repeat this process 4 times and then take a longer break. Like how I have been doing in writing this blog post.
So, it looks like this:
25 minutes of focused work
5-minute break
25 minutes of focused work
5-minute break
25 minutes of focused work
5-minute break
25 minutes of focused work
30-minute break
Where Did the Pomodoro Technique Come From? – Pomodoro #3
The Pomodoro method was invented by an Italian guy named Francesco Cirillo back in the early 1990’s when he was a student. He created the Pomodoro method so that he could get more focused studying done.
Ok, that’s my third Pomodoro done!
Time to put another X beside my first task, I’m still not done, I’m just marking off my third Pomodoro as completed.
Time for another quick 5-minute break before I start my fourth Pomodoro. Gotta pee, too much water, and probably too much information for you, oh well. You’ve read this far, might as well read the rest!
Ok, I’m back and ready to start writing again for my 4th Pomodoro. Let me just reset the timer to 25 minutes once again and hit start!
Here we go…Pomodoro 4…
Why Are They Called ‘Pomodoros’? – Pomodoro #4
The Italian word for tomato is ‘Pomodoro’. Cirillo uses a tomato-shaped kitchen timer to time his work and breaks intervals. Hence the name of the Pomodoro technique!
Use It or Lose It (How to use the Pomodoro technique) – Pomodoro #4
To make the Pomodoro technique actionable, do the following:
Choose the tasks or work you want to accomplish. Pick your top 2 or 3 that would make your day a success.
Write them down.
Set the timer (Pomodoro) for 25 minutes.
Engage in focused work free of distractions. No emails, no cell phone, no phone calls, no social media – nothing!
Take a short 5-minute break to rest your mind – get up and walk around. Get away from the computer or desk!
Repeat the work and rest periods 3 more times.
Take a longer break, 15-30 minutes.
Do as many Pomodoros as you feel comfortable with each day (and as many as your schedule allows).
Experiment with the length of the Pomodoro and the rest period. Just like interval training, some of us need more rest between intervals, some work better with longer work sessions. The important thing is to give your mind breaks and to make sure you don’t get distracted while you are working.
Make sure you use the timer to keep you accountable and focused.
Use it in conjunction with my recent best time of day post. You can use it during the peak to get even more out of your focused work. Or use it during the trough to get more administrative stuff done. Finally, use it during the recovery when you are working on creative stuff.
OK, time’s up.
That’s my fourth Pomodoro done! Time to put another X beside my first task, I’m still not done, I’m just marking off my fourth Pomodoro as completed.
Now that I have completed 4 Pomodoros, it is time for me to take a longer break, a 30-minute break. I’m hungry so I think I will have something to eat. Then maybe I’ll go outside and get some fresh air…
I’m not quite done with the post yet, so I need to keep doing Pomodoros until I finish it.
Now that I have completed 4 Pomodoros, I start back at 1 and do 4 more. Start the timer and go…
Ok, here we go…start again at Pomodoro 1…
When to Use It – Pomodoro 1
There are many areas where you can use the Pomodoro method:
At work
Studying
Getting tasks done around the house
Anywhere you need to do focused work!
What Do You Think? – Pomodoro 1
Have you used the Pomodoro technique in your life? Can you see yourself using it? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Something interesting just happened. I finished writing this post 5 minutes into this Pomodoro. So, I will simply move on to the next task on my list, which is working on promoting this blog, until this Pomodoro is done.
Ok, time’s up!
Let me put the X on item 2 since that is what I am working on now.
That is where this post will stop! However, that does not mean my Pomodoros will stop for the day as I still have a lot of shit to do on blog promotion and then thinking of new blog post ideas.
Sadly, I have to let you go because you are distracting me from getting my work done!
Until next time, keep ‘Pomodoroing’ and as always…PYMFP!
Rick
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References
15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management: The Productivity Habits of 7 Billionaires, 13 Olympic Athletes, 29 Straight-A Students, and 239 Entrepreneurs by Kevin Kruse
Productivity Hacks: 500+ Easy Ways to Accomplish More at Work–That Actually Work! by Emily Price
Happy Monday Rick (is that an oxymoron?). I had never heard the term “pomodoro” before, and at first glance, though it referred to some type of small dog. But what you describe as a modern management technique is something I’ve done for years. You crank on a task until you’ve had enough, then take a time out. Have a drink, scratch your butt, listen to I Tunes – something to unwind and give your scrambled brain a break. In fact, that’s what I’m doing right now. Composing replies for your blog actually is a stress reliever since I have been fighting with two different computers who insist on doing what they want instead of what I want. Why can’t programmers leave things alone instead of adding unwanted “improvements and updates”? Well, obviously, that eliminates their jobs.
So then I decided to have a drink. Grab a bottle of Glenlivet, go into the kitchen and take a wine glass (first thing I saw) and pour about 2 shots (who measures?) My wife says to me “Why are you drinking wine so early?” Glenlivet is about the same color as a chardonnay. I say “its Scotch, not wine”. She immediately understands. Sometimes I’m too predictable.
So as you might say, I am “pomodoro-ing” because once I finish the Scotch, I will begin writing a magazine article. I’m really not in the mood to fight with computers any more.
Ok. Wine glass empty. Time to press on with some productive creative writing and get myself published again.
Pax Vobiscum!!
Happy Monday Dave. Way too funny on the Glenlivet, that’s awesome. I agree updates and ‘improvements’ are another way to say job security. Good luck w/ the article!