I must govern the clock, not be governed by it. -Golda Meir
Of course, there are always excuses for not being productive. It is easy to list out 1,000 reasons why anyone wasted a day. These reasons are almost always the same. However, the truth is the key to having a productive day is simple. The average Joe can be productive without being super bright like Elon Musk.
I can, with much authority, back up the fact that you don’t need a lot of smarts to be productive. I do not deny that situations are unique or that real issues stop us from being productive. I am saying that the solution is often closer than we think.
Fortunately, thousands of books have been written on time management, each providing multiple solutions on how to be productive. One such book is Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy.
The solutions provided in some of these popular books work well, and I know this because I have read some of the best titles by respected authors. However, if you are like me, all you want is that sure-fire and straightforward way to increase productivity via time management immediately.
And so, in this short expository, we will be talking about a simple method you can adopt to your daily activity if you want to do more per day. It is easy to adopt. This technique is called the Pomodoro Technique.
So, What Is The Pomodoro Technique?
The Pomodoro Technique is a mouthful. And it also sounds like one out of the many jargons unique to complicated fields. The only thing that could be improved about this technique is its pronunciation.
Francesco Cirillo, an entrepreneur, and developer, developed the Pomodoro Technique in the 1990s. It is a time management technique that features breaking down work into 25 minutes stretches punctuated by 5 minutes break.
This technique is straightforward to adopt. One good thing about it is that most tasks can be done using it. The CEO of a Fortune 500 can adopt this technique as much as a plumber.
So, How can I work with the Pomodoro technique?
Create a time scale of preference to determine your most important task.
● Starting with the essential task, work for 25 minutes without distractions.
● After 25 minutes, take a short break of 5 minutes to rest or engage in any relaxing activity that can span the 5 minutes.
● Repeat the above process four more times.
● Then, take an extended break of 25 minutes.
● Repeat the entire process, running through the tasks on your list.
And yes, this is that simple.
If you want to read a book, write an article or even study for a long time with total concentration, you can use this simple technique and get the most from the book.
I use the Pomodoro technique in researching keywords for my website, and through it, I have produced more than 50 articles in less than six months. Adopting this technique has also helped me in reading over 50 books. It is amazing.
I am so passionate about this technique and why it is my most talked about technique in time management because it works and is simple to use. My experience with it is enough evidence, but I have also seen others use it and record a high productivity rate.
This is one of the best life hacks for time management and increased productivity; the cheapest way of getting things done with the least resources.
What are the apps that can help me in using Pomodoro Technique?
You can depend on a few apps to use the Pomodoro technique efficiently. The idea here is to use what you have to get what you want. And, in this case, your smartphone is your biggest ally.
Now, when it comes to time management, a plethora of amazing apps exist. There are over 40 amazing apps you can download to this effect. However, the apps you need are not specifically time management apps but those that can aid you in using the Pomodoro technique.
These apps include:
● Timer: You need a timer to help you track the 25 minutes work period.
● Alarm: You should set the alarm to alert you every 25 minutes or 5 minutes.
● Disabling Apps: You may need to install an app that will disable all other apps that distract you when you work.
Armed with these apps, you will find the already simple Pomodoro technique even simpler.
What are the drawbacks of Pomodoro Techniques?
There is rarely a time management technique that doesn’t come with its drawback. No technique is flawless; the same can be said of the Pomodoro technique.
Some of the drawbacks of using this technique are personal to me, and I believe that when you begin using the technique, you will discover these drawbacks are common. These include the following:
● The 25 minutes work interval wasn’t enough. I realize I can go longer with complete focus on my work, and my alarm going off after 25 minutes is a distraction.
● The 5 minutes of rest often stretches longer, as more is needed.
● Towards the end of the day, the time I can spend working dwindles considerably.
How can I solve the drawback?
A famous quote by Alice Duer Miller is:
“The strongest will is the will that knows how to bend.”
Within our context, this means real strength is bending things according to our will; in this case, we must learn to manipulate the Pomodoro technique for our good.
Below are a few ways I manipulated/bent the Pomodoro technique to my will
● Instead of dividing my work time into 25-minute times stretch, I increased mine to 45mins to 1-hour work intervals.
● I increased my rest time from 5 to 15 minutes, sufficient for a solid short nap.
● Toward the end of the day, I gradually reduce the time I spend working.
Note that these are ways by which I handled the drawbacks mentioned above. Yours might be different. You might realize you can not even work for as much as 25 minutes in a stretch without getting distracted. In your case, you might have to reduce the time to 15 minutes.
The most important thing to know is that you can use the Pomodoro technique however you like. Once you find your rhythm, you will observe your productivity has increased.
Is the Pomodoro Technique a boon for productivity?
Without a doubt, I can say yes! The Pomodoro technique works. However, it all depends on how disciplined you are. Ultimately, the success or failure of the technique is linked to your ability to use it.
According to Daniel Walter in his book, self-discipline is the key to achieving any goal. So, if you choose to work at a 15-minute interval, rest for 5 minutes, and do so diligently, you will begin to record a high level of productivity than someone else who decided to work at 1-hour intervals but failed to do so.
Conclusion:
Productivity is linked to time management. There is no separating one from the other.
The Pomodoro technique offers one of the simplest methods to increase your productivity.
So, try it out today. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.