Not long ago I learned about the “Pomodoro Technique” of time management, and lately I’ve been seeing it mentioned more and more often. Therefore, I decided to familiarize myself with it in detail and briefly tell about it.
Initially, I was prejudiced against this technique. I'll explain why.
This technique is based on the principle of 25 minutes of work without interruption. But after 25 minutes you must take a break for 5 minutes. And then I thought, imagine that the task takes only 35 minutes. You did it for 25 minutes, then got distracted for 5 minutes, then returned to the task, and it took you another 5 minutes to remember the thought on which you finished, in the end it will take you instead of 35 - 45 minutes to complete the whole task. This is what confused me at first. However, no one forbade using common sense, did they? 🙂 Moreover, you still need to rest, perhaps after this 5-minute break you will have an idea that will help you solve the problem in 3 minutes?
In short, after studying the technique in detail, I realized that this is a very promising planning method. And you can try it yourself :)
What does the Pomodoro technique do?
1. Proper planning - you choose the highest priority tasks, you will be able to predict how long tasks will take.
2. You are in control of the current state of affairs. You track how much time is spent on your tasks
3. Increased attention, less distractions
4. The technique can be used as a kind of timekeeping - at the end of the day you have information for analysis. This is full feedback
5. At the end of the day, you have visualized information that will help you clarify ways to improve the next day.
What will you need?
1. Kitchen timer (you can, of course, replace it with some other one, but the author insists on a ticking timer with a loud bell :)
2. Pen or pencil
3. List of tasks for today (a prioritized list that should include room for unexpected tasks)
4. General to-do list
5. Archive list (intended to analyze how much time it took you to complete what task).
How it works?
1. Select tasks for today from the general to-do list
2. Take on the highest priority tasks
3. Set a timer for 25 minutes (These 25 minute segments are called “Pomodoros” (in Italian “Pomodoro”))
4. You start working and work until the timer rings.
5. Put an “X” next to the task you were working on.
6. Rest 3-5 minutes and start again
7. When a task is completed, cross it off the list.
8. Every 4 pomodoros, take longer breaks of 15-30 minutes.
Basic Rules:
1. “Tomatoes” cannot be divided!
2. If a task takes more than 5-7 pomodoros, it needs to be divided into several tasks.
3. Group tasks that last less than 1 pomodoro into several.
4. Don't interrupt the pomodoro!
5. If you absolutely need to take a break, then take a break and start the Pomodoro again. An interrupted pomodoro is not taken into account.
6. If you are distracted for a short time, you can mark this with an apostrophe on your list.
7. Do not use the Pomodoro technique during non-working hours. Enjoy your free time!
The “Pomodoro Technique” was proposed quite a few years ago.
I would like to share one good time management technique that is great for programmers and other IT specialists. It's called "pomodoro technique"(options are the Pomodoro technique, the tomato technique, and so on), and I found it in the book “The Programmer’s Way.”
If I could recommend just one productivity habit to you, it would be the Pomodoro technique.However, for this technique to be effective, you need to learn how to use it. Let's say Sonmez's first attempt was unsuccessful. He used it for a week, after which he abandoned it for a long time because he considered it ineffective. What is the Pomodoro technique? Why is it effective? The answers to these questions are below.
General information
Why is the technique called the Pomodoro Technique? In the original, the author of this technique used a kitchen timer in the shape of a tomato. Accordingly, the name came from there, as usual, everything ingenious is simple).The Pomodoro technique was created by a man named Francesco Cirillo in the late 80s, but only gained popularity in the 90s. The technique is so simple (like all ingenious things) that you may give it up at first, as John Sonmez did.
The essence
So first you need to plan ahead specific things you are going to do during the day. Next, set the timer for 25 minutes and concentrate on the first planned task. It is important that other tasks and activities should not distract you. You are completely focused on the task at hand for the entire 25 minutes. To achieve this, it is better to switch your phone to airplane mode, put earplugs in your ears, log out of all social networks, and so on. When the 25 minutes are up, set a timer for 5 minutes and take a break during which you rest. This half hour is considered one “pomodoro”. After every four pomodoros there is a mandatory long break of 15 minutes. It is necessary so that the brain can restore strength. This is quite logical: imagine that you need to run as far as possible in a day. Which technique will help you with this: hard sprinting or running at a medium pace with rhythm support? If you finish a task early, you should spend the remaining time “memorizing.” So, if we are talking about learning to program, re-read paragraphs of the chapter you have completed, experiment with the code, cram a specific paragraph, and so on and so forth. So you keep working on the task making small/big improvements and for us as programming students repetition is must.Using the Pomodoro Technique Effectively
Now let's talk about how to use this technique correctly. I think everyone has guessed that technology helps to be concentrated for a long period of time). However, if you simply perform “pomodoros” throughout the day, and do not count how many pomodoros were spent on a particular task, the technique will not give much results. The true power of "pomodoros" is revealed the moment you begin to measure all the things you do during the day with them. Josh Earl (a friend of the author of the book, who revealed the true nature of tomatoes) tracked how many “pomodoros” he managed to make during the day. This reveals the full hidden potential of this technique: you can use it to evaluate the effectiveness of your work. If you track the number of tomatoes you make per day and mark their number, you can evaluate your productivity and diligence. Let me give you a specific example. On this resource, the question is very often asked: “in what period of time can one take a course/learn Java to the level of being hired for a job/internship.” A statistically acceptable answer is: “six months if you study 4 hours a day.” Well, now - basic arithmetic: 4 hours == 8 tomatoes //two equal signs are an attempt to make a “professional” joke if anything. Six months == 183 days 183 * 8 == 1464 Then you just need to count how many “tomatoes” you have already collected. I advise you to do at least 7 “pomodoros” a week so that the brain does not begin to overwrite fragile knowledge that we have not accessed for a long time. These “tomatoes” include solving problems, giving lectures, and reading useful links from the professor (at least 95% in Russian). For myself, I decided to round the number of “pomodoros” to 1500, and just gradually fill the scale at the end of the day 1/1500...100/1500...500/1500 ... and so on. Here's how I use this technique when learning Java. By analogy, it can be applied to achieve other goals. If you need to plan how many “pomodoros” it will take you to achieve a certain goal, spend 4 pomodoros on it, and roughly estimate how many percent were completed during this time. Well, then you just solve the problem using percentages - measure the time to achieve the goal in “tomatoes” =). I hope this approach will help someone :) You can even motivate yourself, for example: for every five tomatoes spent on learning Java, allocate one tomato for yourself for entertainment. A fair deal with yourself! A personal life hack for those who are worried about their vision: during 5 minutes of rest you can work on your eyes, exercise/massage your closed eyes, look out the window, etc. Additionally, I would like to post a list of Internet resources that will help in using this technique.Resources for Using the Pomodoro Technique Effectively
Computer
If you sit at the computer a lot, especially with headphones, you will find the Pomodoro Timer website useful for concentrating and workingHere are real images of tomatoes as progress indicators. Plus, the to-do list here is measured in the usual way - in numbers. Both apps are very cool. Now I use them alternately, and have not yet decided which of them will be my final choice. For now I'm leaning towards the second option. P.S.: The number of my “tomatoes” at the time of writing this post (after opening this technique): 5/1500
Time management is a key success factor. It is very important to learn how to plan your day in order to complete important tasks on time, without being distracted by minor and unimportant ones. But how to do that? Time management will help, namely one of its techniques, the Pomodoro method. Let's get to know him better.
History of appearance
The Pomodoro method was invented by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s. As a student, the young man devoted a lot of time to studying, but still did not achieve significant success and studied worse than most of his classmates. After analyzing his failures, Francesco came to the conclusion that it was all due to distractions that prevented him from concentrating on important matters. And he came up with an original way to solve the problem - he made a “deal” with himself, according to the terms of which he had to engage exclusively in training for 10 minutes. He timed it using a kitchen timer made in the shape of a tomato, and it was he who gave the technique its original name.
The story goes that the young man was unable to defeat himself, but he liked the “sprints” technique itself and began to develop it. Over time, the cunning technique helped Francesco achieve success in his studies, and then in his work. The technique attracted the interest of others, which was the reason for the appearance of the book “The Pomodoro Method,” which was published in 2006. Gradually, Cirillo’s idea began to spread and found wide application in various industries and areas.
Description of the technique
The Pomodoro method with a timer is the secret to rational organization of the work process. It involves dividing working time into several segments, alternating hard work and rest. This helps the brain focus on solving important problems without being distracted by minor ones.
So, working time is divided into sprints called “pomodoros”. Their duration is 25 minutes. It is very important to set a timer so as not to miss the end of the period. At this time, you need to work hard, not allowing yourself to be distracted. This is followed by a 5-minute break. Then another sprint for 25 minutes of labor. After completing 4 pomodoros, you can rest for 15 minutes.
Advantages
Using the Pomodoro Technique is an effective and efficient way to manage your time. Thus, working hard and focused in 25-minute sprints over 2-3 hours is more productive than using the standard 6-7 hour approach. This fact has been proven. The following advantages can also be noted:
- The work was completed efficiently and on time.
- The brain is not overloaded with solving minor issues.
- Thanks to the rational alternation of work and rest, overwork does not occur.
- Allows you to cope with the main enemy of efficiency - distracted attention.
The Pomodoro method is a great way to not only quickly solve basic problems, but also to develop self-discipline.
Flaws
Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to divide their working day into a series of segments that involve alternating work and rest. Thus, operators of popular hotlines are forced to take calls throughout their entire shift and cannot take a break every 25 minutes. The same applies to salespeople in stores and other service personnel.
Also, people in creative professions will not be able to use the Pomodoro method in time management, because much of their work depends on inspiration, which, as we know, does not come at certain hours.
But in general, the technique has proven to be valid and helps many people solve the problem of rational organization of working time.
How to use?
The Pomodoro method involves the following sequence of actions:
- Selecting a task to implement which efforts will be directed.
- Set the timer for 25 minutes. You can use any device - an alarm clock, an electronic signal on a cell phone. In general, everything that is at hand.
- After this, you should begin to work hard and focused to bring your goal closer - to complete the intended task. In the first stages, you can help yourself by eliminating distractions - turn off the music or movie, log out of social media accounts, turn off the sound on your mobile phone. This sprint should be devoted entirely to work for all 25 minutes. You shouldn’t constantly glance at the clock - the timer itself will notify you that the “pomodoro” has come to an end.
- When you hear the timer signal, you can relax for exactly 5 minutes. It is better to use this time productively: get up, do a few simple exercises, go to the window, get some fresh air, pour yourself a mug of tea.
- Then everything is repeated in a circle: 25 minutes of intense work, 5 minutes of rest. After making 4 circles, you can take a longer rest of 15 minutes. The second version of the program is 5 full “pomodoros”, after which there is a break for half an hour. This time can be used for lunch.
If you do everything in full accordance with the methodology, very soon you will notice a positive result: in 2 cycles you will be able to do a volume of work that previously took an entire shift, and 3-4 cycles will bring double productivity. Plus - you don't have to worry about overwork.
Secrets of the technique
It has been scientifically proven that the brain is most efficient for 25 minutes, then this figure drops. Therefore, the Pomodoro method involves taking full advantage of this fact. When your brain gets tired, you should take a break rather than sit and suffer trying to force yourself to work.
25 minutes is the recommended time and is an average. If it’s difficult to concentrate at first, you can set yourself a timer for 15-20 minutes, gradually increasing the time by 5 minutes until the desired indicator is achieved. Efficient people can take on large amounts of work at once, doing their “pomodoro” lasting up to 45 minutes. However, there is a very important condition: all the scheduled time must be devoted to solving a specific task; other things and the whole world around seem to cease to exist until the timer signal.
You can also do it relatively freely intermittently. If 5 minutes is not enough, they can be extended to 10-15, but it is important to remember: by increasing the duration of rest, you reduce your own productivity and extend the working day. Therefore, a longer pause between sprints must be justified.
Using the Pomodoro method helps you organize your time more effectively and efficiently, focusing on solving important issues. The work process becomes many times more productive. The Pomodoro method program is quite simple to implement; it does not require any special knowledge or skills; you just need to show willpower and endurance at first, forcing yourself to work. Gradually this will become a habit.
Did you know that when you are about to do something unpleasant, your brain experiences real PAIN?
Those. structures associated with the detection of a visceral threat and pain as such are activated in it.
This is exactly what we will talk about today. Let's take a closer look:
- why exactly is it so effective;
- what an important condition is often forgotten, losing half the effect!
- And how to tailor it to our own needs, what tips and tricks to use to make it even more effective.
The Pomodoro technique was introduced by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. And the name comes from the Italian “Pomodoro” - i.e. "tomato". Because the timer Francesco used was shaped like a tomato.
The beauty of this technique is that it does not require any complex equipment other than a timer, which is found in any phone.
The essence of the method:
- We break the work into 25-minute segments – “pomodoros”. Then we rest for 5 minutes.
- And we repeat – 25 minutes of work, 5 minutes of rest.
- After 4 such “pomodoros”, we take a long break for 20-30 minutes, celebrate, rejoice and have fun.
4 main rules
1. We work concentratedly for 25 minutes.
Why is 25 minutes so good? That's less than half an hour! Anyone can work for 25 minutes without being distracted. On the other hand, this is still a fairly long period, during which you can manage to do a lot, learn and finish.
2. Remove all distractions.
We give ourselves time to concentrate on the task at hand, turn off all notifications, alerts, calls and SMS.
Of course, there are possible options here, but ideally you will be able to work.
3. We concentrate on one task.
Now, having removed all distractions, we concentrate on one task. That's the point. This is the very meaning of effective work. Immerse yourself in the task completely, surrender to the will of this flow - because nothing distracts you.
4. Reward!!!
Last but not least. This rule is often forgotten, and sometimes is not even mentioned in the descriptions.
A huge, unforgivable mistake!
It's the reward after 25 minutes of hard work that makes the Pomodoro technique so effective. You reward yourself and: work focused and efficient. Instead of the habit of postponing, and working carelessly and without desire.
Allow your brain to happily distract itself with something pleasant. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, walk a little, look out the window.
Advantages and benefits of the Pomodoro technique
1. Flow: we concentrateon the process, not the result.
This reduces the focus on the importance of the task and helps you enter a state of flow. Which means work. Less fear of an important task - easier to start, easier to finish the preliminary version.
2. Helps you work focused and evenly, without twitching and stress - as a result, the quality of work improves. And the quantity too.
3. One task at a time– this is the best way for our brain to work. We did one thing - checked the box, and moved on to the next one.
And since we have time (we worked, and didn’t procrastinate), we can finalize the first option, completing the work with high quality and on time.
4. Physiological. 25 minutes of work, 5 minutes of rest, a longer break every 1.5-2 hours - that’s just it. And it’s somewhat reminiscent of sports training: 25 minutes of intense mental work, then 5 minutes of mental relaxation.
1. It’s not possible to immediately follow this rhythm. This is fine. Especially when you are doing something new and unusual. For example, learning something new. You are writing on a little-researched topic.
Just keep working and you'll get the hang of it in a few days. The better you are familiar with the topic, the easier and more enjoyable it is to do it.
2. The main thing is to just start. Remember: a little discomfort before starting is normal. This unpleasant matter tugs at the strings of your brain. Just start - and within a few minutes the discomfort will disappear.
3. A reward is a must! Since we still need to work, let’s do it with pleasure.
- Spend a few minutes on your favorite website;
- Go get a cup of coffee;
- Eat a piece of chocolate;
- Do some stretching;
- Chat with friends or colleagues;
- Look at something beautiful.
- Just walk for 5 minutes in the fresh air.
4. Enemies are all around! They don't sleep
There will definitely be distractions. This is some kind of law of life. When you start working, someone immediately tries to interfere.
Try to provide yourself with a quiet place. Explain to people not to interfere. Turn off your phone (I set it to night mode), close all unnecessary browser windows, or even turn off the Internet.
This is when other people bother you. But sometimes the enemy is inside you. And he will also interfere. And he also needs to be dealt with.
Sometimes distracted valuable thoughts and ideas coming. For example, I'm working on this post and important but untimely ideas immediately come to mind:
If I start doing this, I will get distracted, word by word... And then, instead of one important thing, several unimportant ones will be done, and the important thing will again turn out to be unfinished.
Dealing with this is quite simple: I keep a notepad nearby, in which I write down all the ideas that come to mind. And I will do them - but only after I finish the main thing for today.
Another type of distraction is random impulses about anything.
Suddenly a thought comes to mind: now I’ll just check the notifications on Facebook; I’ll just check my email and go straight to work; I’ll just see if there’s an update on my favorite site;
Such impulses arise with enviable consistency. If you give in to him, that’s it, the work stops. Sometimes for 20 minutes. Sometimes for several hours.
The best way to deal with them is to simply observe them calmly. The first seconds are just a strong desire. But if you don’t give in to it right away - after a few seconds of simple observation, it ceases to be so strong.
An impulse arises - just observe for a few seconds - and calmly let go.
Then, after completing a feat of labor, all these entertainments become doubly pleasant and bring much more pleasure.
5. Customize your equipment for yourself.
“Pomodoro” can be adjusted to suit you and your needs in a variety of ways. It all depends on your condition, what exactly you do, and your preferences.
How long I work - 25 minutes, 22 or 40 - depends on my mood and what I'm doing.
Write new text or edit, select pictures or change something in the code - depending on the work, I can choose the most suitable periods of time. Sometimes it's only 15 minutes, sometimes it's a whole hour.
A lot can depend on the condition. If you feel a rare sense of vigor, that’s one thing. If there is no desire, and it’s generally gloomy outside, then it’s different.
Despite the fact that time management has experienced the peak of its popularity, when almost everyone was talking about it, time management is still the only way to properly organize the work process and separate it from personal matters.
Although almost everyone knows about the Pomodoro technique, it seemed to us that the general knowledge base is still not enough - information about the “Pomodoro” technique has to be found bit by bit. We have collected in one place everything you need to know about Pomodoro: history of creation, goals, rules, answered frequently asked questions and selected the best applications and services.
Below we will tell the history of the creation of the technology, its key goals, features, and also select the best tools for all operating systems: Windows, OS X, iOS, Android and even Windows Phone.
Story
In the 1980s, people had different problems and thought less about time management. Francesco Cirillo, at that time a student at an Italian university, experienced depression after completing his first year and successfully passing his exams. Coming home from university, he continued to study and soon realized that he did not understand what he was spending his time on.
New exams came faster than he thought, and it turned out that Cirillo was not ready for them, although he spent a lot of time studying. Realizing this, he wondered: “Will I be able to for real study for at least 10 minutes?” Such a goal is not enough - an objective judge was needed, and a small kitchen timer in the shape of a tomato became it. This is how the technique got its name. This test was the beginning of Pomodoro, and after months of practice, research and experimentation, it turned into what we will talk about below.
Why is this necessary?
In an era of constant distraction, when everything is done to attract and attract your attention, managing your time is very important. By using the Pomodoro technique or another alternative technique, you increase your productivity by getting more done in less time.
According to Cirillo, the main goals are:
- Supporting determination to achieve your own goals.
- Improving the work and learning process.
- Increased work and study efficiency.
- Developing determination to act in difficult situations.
Technology is just a tool that will help you achieve this. The rest is up to you.
The essence of the Pomodoro technique
For simplicity, we will only mention the work process, although the technique is also suitable for study.
The time periods into which work is divided are conventionally called tomatoes. One pomodoro lasts 30 minutes: 25 minutes of work and 5 minutes of rest. Almost every year new studies appear that talk about the effectiveness of other time periods, but we take the original technique as a basis.
Before starting the timer, you should make a list of work tasks. There are various applications and services for this (we will touch on them below), but you can also use a regular piece of paper. Let's start with this.
Take a piece of paper and title it “Today’s Tasks.” Considering your priorities (from most to least important), make a list of all your tasks for today. After that, set the timer for 25 minutes and start working.
The timer rings to indicate the start of a 5-minute rest. At this time, it is not advisable to engage in work matters and it is better to relax and take your mind off work. After 5 minutes have passed, you need to return to the task and continue completing it. Each “pomodoro” segment should be marked with a cross opposite the task you are performing. After four segments, take a long break - from 15 to 30 minutes. When you finish working on a task, cross it off the list and move on to the next one.
Keeping a list of tasks is necessary for self-control and monitoring your effectiveness. For example, after a week, you can see how many “pomodoros” you spent on completing a particular task. Of course, multiplying the number of segments by 25 minutes, you get a more common unit of measurement than pomodoros - minutes.
What to do with distractions
Although the Pomodoro technique is designed to combat distractions, they still appear during the work process. If the 25-minute period of time has not yet ended, and you can’t help but get distracted, put an apostrophe “’” on the sheet where you write down the crosses. After that, add the new activity to your task list and try to finish the task you were working on before.
This is not in the official version of the technique, but many advise assessing the importance of distraction on a ten-point scale, where 10 points is a task of maximum importance, and 1 point is a task that is not worth your attention at the moment. Cirillo insists that any distraction can wait until the timer runs out, which should never be paused. If you can't wait, you need to turn off the timer, do what you need to do, and get back to work by starting the timer again.
If you are still distracted, put a dash “-” next to the unfinished task. By evaluating them in the future, you will be able to understand which tasks you were least productive in solving.
Follow-up assessment
After using the Pomodoro technique for a few days, you will be able to estimate how many “pomodoros” you have for each day. For example, a standard eight-hour work day equals 14 pomodoros. By making a list of tasks for the day, you evaluate in advance which tasks to allocate more time to, which - less, and which should be postponed until tomorrow.
Over time, you can divide work segments into several parts, leaving 3-5 minutes at the beginning of the segment to study the work done before and 3-5 minutes at the end to review what you did now. This analysis does not require changes in the duration of the pomodoro. If analysis is difficult for you, put it off for the future. This means that you have not yet mastered the basics of technology.
Applications and services
Let's touch on the most interesting. We have collected the best Pomodoro solutions for all popular devices.
1. Keep Focused - a simple timer for Pomodoro.
Questions
What to do if the task has already been completed and the time has not run out?
Do not turn off the timer ahead of time. If you have some work time left, take on tasks that are not on your list today. You can plan tasks for the next day, read something, or discuss a work issue.
What if I want to work more or less?
According to Cirillo, the optimal duration of a pomodoro is 20–35 minutes. But once you have mastered the technique, you can experiment and change the intervals depending on how you feel more comfortable working.
Which timer is better to use: a real one or in the form of an application or service? What about the task list?
It doesn't matter. It's best to try both options: the app and a real timer. An undeniable advantage of applications and services is that their settings are more flexible. The same applies to the task list: if you don’t need excessive functionality, a sheet of paper or a notepad will suffice.
What is “call fear”?
This is anxiety caused by the feeling of being under the control of a timer. Most often, the fear of calling is experienced by people who are not accustomed to self-discipline. Try to overcome yourself.
Why are all these apostrophes, crosses and dashes needed?
For analysis. By reviewing these notes in the future, you will be able to determine which tasks required endurance from you, which went without distraction, and which were so uninteresting or difficult that you were unable to complete them and moved on to something else.
Are there studies confirming the effectiveness of the technique?
Yes. Even if we do not touch upon the research conducted by Cirillo himself. For example, Federico Gobbo and Matteo Vaccari observed a group of programmers working with and without technology. The effectiveness of their work using the Pomodoro technique was higher. Another study conducted by Staples showed the ineffectiveness of workers who work without a break, except for lunch.
In addition, Doctor of Psychology and famous blogger David Nowell also uses this technique. he tells why.
What if I don't want to use the Pomodoro technique and want to try something different?
There are dozens of articles on Lifehacker talking about various productivity and time management techniques. alternatives to standard task lists. An alternative view of productivity and the Pomodoro technique.
This is boring, I want something more interesting.