Trouble With Procrastination
The Pomodoro Technique
We all struggle with procrastination and distractions. Projects at home or work that, in our minds, look daunting. Ever pick up a book and see that it has 600 pages to read and not even start? A massive project at work that could take six months or longer and feel overwhelmed? Cleaning the house can be tiresome.
So much to do so you end up doing nothing. Actually, you do everything else but what you need to focus on.
Don’t look at the end. Look at the parts. This technique helps you tackle and complete all your tasks by chunking them into manageable pieces called Pomodori (plural for Pomodoro). The Pomodoro Technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo to improve your productivity. For those of us who can’t sit still or focus for too long, it’s a great simple way to chunk out time to complete any task.
What would you like to get done?. Check and respond to emails – one Pomodoro. Presentation – 2 Pomodori; update report – 2 Pomodori; grade papers – 3 Pomodori. No more than 10 Pomodori per day.
Find a beautiful sand timer to create a relaxing environment without a jarring alarm at the end of the allotted time. Start the timer for 25 minutes.
For 25 minutes, focus on the task at hand. No matter what, don’t check on anything else or play a game on your phone. If you get finished before the time is up, review your project with any remaining time left. Stick to the rhythm of 25/5.
After the 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break and move around. Get up and take a walk, stretch, and drink some water. Meditate. Make good use of the 5 minutes by doing something different.
Then start your next 25-minute Pomodoro. After several Pomodori take a more extended break.
Simple. Practical. Achievable.
