With more of us working from home than ever before, striking a balance between focusing on work and maintaining a quality home life can prove challenging. It can seem like there’s always something demanding your attention, from children to cleaning to the knock on the front door to the zoom meetings we need to attend; our focus can be stretched thin in many different directions each day.
Learning to manage your time more efficiently can start you on a new path towards achieving that balance. You’ve heard the phrase “work smarter, not harder.” The Pomodoro Technique is a popular time-management method that aims to help its practitioners power through distractions, sharpen their focus, and complete the tasks at hand in short bursts. The approach incorporates frequent breaks that allow you to relax and return to the task stronger than before. See if the Pomodoro Technique can help you navigate your responsibilities more effectively.
How Does the Pomodoro Technique Work?
Named after the tomato-shaped timer, the Pomodoro Effect was invented in the early 1980s by Francesco Cirillo. As a developer, entrepreneur, and author, Francesco strived to develop a technique that would improve a person’s attention span and ability to concentrate. He learned that breaking work into short, timed intervals helps to train your brain to focus for short periods, allowing you to stay on top of deadlines with heightened concentration. The combination of short sprints and regular breaks helps to bolster your motivation while keeping you creative and focused.
The core process of the Pomodoro Technique consists of six simple steps:
- Choose a task you want to complete: Whether large or small, pick a goal that you have been putting off forever. You can choose any task you like, as this method works for any purpose. What does matter is that you give it your undivided attention in the next step.
- Set your timer for 25 minutes: Commit yourself wholeheartedly to the task for 25 minutes without interruption or respite. Give the task 100% of your attention and effort, resisting all distractions.
- Wait until your timer rings: For those 25 minutes, immerse yourself completely into the task. If you start to think of something else that needs your attention, quickly write it down and refocus yourself on the matter at hand.
- Once your timer goes off, put a checkmark on your paper: You have just completed your first interruption-free interval.
- Take a break: Indulge in a work-free break. Don’t even think about your obligations; allow your mind to reset. Your first few breaks should be short, 5-10 minutes at most.
- Once you have completed four Pomodoro breaks, start increasing your break time: Your longer breaks should be between 20-30 minutes. These breaks will give your brain time to assimilate new information while resting, allowing you to return to the next round with stronger focus and determination.
What Happens If I Get Interrupted?
Despite your best efforts, interruptions are going to happen. When using the Pomodoro method, Cirillo suggests a strategy of Inform, Negotiate, Schedule, and Call back:
Inform the person who interrupted your interval that you are working on something important.
Negotiate a time when you can get back to them.
Schedule the follow-up.
Call back (or contact) the person once your Pomodoro interval is completed.
While this method may not work in every situation, most interruptions can wait. If you’re working from home and you are interrupted by family members, as long as it’s not an emergency, having them wait until a more appropriate moment to receive your attention can help them understand the importance of your time.
Who Can Benefit from the Pomodoro Technique?
This technique can be helpful for people who struggle with following a work schedule, maintaining a home/life balance, or are simply facing lots of obligations. The Pomodoro Technique can be especially effective for creative professionals and is remarkably adaptable to many different types of work.
Stepping away from your computer screen and the mountain of paperwork on your desk can serve as a necessary catalyst for decreasing your stress level, allowing you to come back to your work with a clearer and more productive mindset. It is also important to note that if you’re in the zone and fully focused on the task when your timer goes off, it’s best to finish what you are doing and then take your break.
The Pomodoro Technique has been shown to work to varying degrees for different people. It’s a productivity system that is worth trying; even if it does not work for you, it can help you better understand your work style and find a method that complements it.
We could all benefit from becoming a little more productive, efficient, and focused. Between all our responsibilities and the myriads of demands on our attention each day, keeping your focus and completing your to-do list can pose an increasing challenge, especially for the many people who started working from home due to the pandemic and must now grapple with maintaining a healthy work-life balance. While no productivity method can offer a one size fits all solution, the Pomodoro Technique has been shown to help significant numbers of people become more focused and improve their ability to get work done on time. If you’re interested in learning more about finding ways to improve your focus, mental clarity, or other forms of personal efficacy, reach out for guidance from people who can provide practical help. Achieve Concierge offers personalized assistance and support in reaching your goals and becoming the best possible version of yourself. Call us at (619) 393-5871 to learn more.