Using the “Pomodoro Technique” for productivity gains

Today’s world is a busy world. Almost everybody seems to be constantly rushing around at 100 miles per hour.

Whether we’re juggling 3 kids with a full-time job, struggling to get a good night’s sleep while being shackled to our phones, or we’re desperately trying to keep fit despite being constantly on the move, all of us seem to be gasping for breathing space.

In such a world, productivity is pure gold. Anything that can save us an hour in the morning, any way we can do two jobs at the same time, can dramatically improve our lives and give us the breathing room we so desperately need.

Over the years I’ve discovered some really simple ways of ramping up your productivity. Of those, perhaps the most effective, easiest to implement and most immediately beneficial is the Pomodoro Technique.

What is the Pomodoro Technique?

The Pomodoro Technique takes its name from the little tomato timers you might have seen in some peoples’ kitchens.

The technique itself is very simple to execute. It is based on the very simple concept of breaking up your time into small, discrete chunks and then working intensely until that chunk of time is over.

The usual set up of the Pomodoro Technique goes like this:

– Set up a timer for 25 minutes
– Work intensely until those 25 minutes are up
– Take a short break of 3-5 minutes
– Repeat the cycle for another 2-3 chunks
– Take a longer break of 30-90 minutes (depending on your work)

So the Pomodoro Technique is not unlike interval training. You do an intense burst of activity for a set amount of time, then take a short break, and then repeat it for a number of cycles.

But to some of you, this might not sound like much of a productivity hack. If that’s the case, you clearly haven’t tried it!

Why is the Pomodoro Tehcnique so effective?

Why does it improve productivity?

The Pomodoro Technique is insanely effective for boosting productivity.

It doesn’t matter if you’re studying for a test, trying to learn some new vocab, or if you’re rushing to get an assignment done before the deadline passes – the Pomodoro Technique will help.

Most poeple who use the Pomodoro Technique can’t believe how impactful it is in real life. I have personally found that I can get an entire day’s work done in a morning if I just push through 5-6 sets of 25-minute sprints. Many people report the same thing.

But why?

For most people, your productivity is limited by your attention span. This is especially true today, when we all have boxes of infinite information sitting on our desks!

You have every intention of finishing a paper, but then you see an interesting email, or you get a message on Whatsapp, or you find your way onto Reddit for a “quick break”. Before you know it, your morning has gone.

The Pomodoro Technique completely removes the temptation for distraction because you know you have a 5 minute break approaching soon. If you know you have just another 8 minutes to go, it’s mentally a lot easier to keep working compared to not having an end-time in sight.

The Pomodoro Technique hacks your psychology.

It is first and foremost a psychological tool designed to make you a better learner, a better worker, and a more effective person.

The fact it is psychological and not merely practical is precisely what makes it so powerful.

Try it out today and you’ll see its true power!