What does a tomato have to do with your productivity? Well, there’s a popular time management and productivity system named after the Italian word for tomato. It’s called the Pomodoro Technique and it aims to prevent procrastination and maximize productivity.
Francesco Cirillo created the technique in the 1980s and named it after a tomato-shaped kitchen timer he used while developing the method.
Here’s the simple system he created:
1) Outline a to-do list of the projects that need work that day.
2) Divide each one into 25-minute working periods called “pomodoros.”
3) Get to work. Stay focused and working for the entirety of each 25-minute Pomodoro.
4) Take a 5-minute break at the conclusion of each pomodoro.
5) After four pomodoros pass, you get a well-earned 15–20-minute break to replenish your energy.
Research indicates that forcing yourself to remain at your desk all day actually reduces performance and productivity, whereas frequent short breaks keep your mind fresh and focused. What’s more, knowing that your pomodoro is only 25 minutes long may pressure you into being as productive as possible during that time period.
Why not give this proven system a shot and see if it improves your own productivity and time management? All you need to get started is a timer (tomato-shaped timer is optional).