If you’ve spent much time researching time management methods, you will soon come across The Pomodoro Technique. Here is Captain Time’s take on this very popular productivity method, In my Pomodoro Technique review, we will explore what the Pomodoro technique is, where it helps, and some criticisms from people who have tried it.
Pomodoro Technique Review: Named after a tomato!
The Pomodoro Technique was developed in the late 1980s by Italian university student, Francesco Cirillo. He would use a kitchen countdown timer to work in short, focused sprints and then take a break. The kitchen timer he used was shaped like a tomato, so he named the method the Pomodoro Technique, “pomodoro” being Italian for tomato.
Pomodoro Structure
You set a timer for 25 minutes, then focus ONLY on that task or project for 25 minutes. Then take a 5-minute break. I usually recommend moving around and stretching for the 5 minutes. Then you reset the timer and work another 25 minutes, then a 5-minute break again. After 3-4 “pomodoros” you take a longer break of 15-30 minutes.
Growth of the Technique
In the early 2000s, Cirillo released a free PDF guide explaining the technique. The technique spread through early productivity blogs and tech forums and became one of the best-known productivity techniques today.
Where Do I Get a Pomodoro Timer?
You can use a kitchen timer, like Cirillo (tomato shape optional). Or you can use your timer functions on your smart phone or a web-based countdown timer. The default clock apps on smartphones usually have a countdown timer function. Many productivity tools, like xTiles also have a timer built in. Here is a Pomodoro Timer from the Google Play Store I use for Android.
What if I am Interrupted?
It is best to try to work focused on a project or task for an uninterrupted 25 minutes, but if you are interrupted, just pause the timer, deal with the interruption, then come back to the project and restart the timer to finish out your 25 minutes of work.
Why Does the Pomodoro Technique Work?
- Sets Intention: When you set the intention to work on a project for 25 minutes of uninterrupted focus, this creates dedicated time blocks to work on the project and sets the intention to work on the project instead of getting distracted by other work.
- Works in Batches: It is inefficient to work on a budget for 5 minutes, answer 1 email, then work on a client project for 1 minute, then make one phone call, then back to the budget for 5 minutes. Instead, work in batches during a set 25-minute block of time for your budget, then 25 minutes for client projects, 25 minutes for emails, etc.
- Creates Focus: Focus is our superpower. You will be amazed at how much you get done in 25 minutes of uninterrupted deep focus work.
- Less Procrastination:: Have an important project you really don’t feel like working on? We all have these! I find the Pomodoro technique helps by you knowing you only have to spend 25 minutes on the project, and then you can move on to the next one.
Common Criticisms of the Pomodoro Technique
No one productivity technique works for everyone. Here are some common criticisms of the Pomodoro technique.
- Deep Focus Interruption: If you are “in the zone” a timer ringing at 25 minutes and having to switch to another project or task can break your momentum.
- Complex Tasks: Some complicated tasks might require deep thinking that takes 20 minutes just to “warm up” so 25 minutes of focus isn’t enough.
- Meeting Conflicts: It’s hard to stay on a strict Pomodoro schedule when you have back-to-back in-person or online meetings.
- Stress/Rigidity: Some people feel more stressed by the ticking countdown clock than supported by it.
Overcoming the Criticisms
You can overcome some of these criticisms by using longer blocks of time, such as an hour for complex tasks. For stess/rigidity, you could set the timer, then put it face down so you can’t see it. For the problem of too many meetings, you can hire me to run my High Impact Meetings That Drive Results workshop for your team to improve meeting effectiveness and cut down on the total number of meetings. 😀
So, Does Garland Use The Pomodoro Technique?
Yes, Captain Time does use the Pomodoro Technique, especially for my deep focus tasks. My morning time blocks often consist of “pomodoros” for Content Creation, Marketing, Workshop Creation, and New Product Development. My afternoon time blocks include Email Processing, Meetings, and Coaching and Mastermind sessions.
Pomodoro Technique Review Conclusion
I highly recommend the Pomodoro Technique for the following reasons:
- Helps you set a productivity intention
- Reduces distractions and encourages deep focus
- Encourages you to more efficiently complete your work in batches of similar work
- Helps you beat procrastination
- Helps you “eat the frog first’ – helps you work on difficult, complex tasks for short sprints
If you tried the technique and it didn’t work for you, try some of the criticism workarounds above,
Want help implementing the Pomodoro Technique or improving your productivity? Join my Time Guild. If you enjoyed this Pomodoro Technique review, please hit the “Like” and “Subscribe” buttons on the video above,