The Pomodore Principle
What a tomato has to do with time management?
Ok it is not exactly a tomato what I am talking about, but it is representing a tomato and a version of a kitchen timer.
In traditional time management the first priority is assumed by highest urgency and greatest importance. Different tasks are ordered by this principle. This is immense helpful, but the scheme leaves out one important factor – concentration. It is evidence-based that the concentration goes down already after a short time. Mistakes, unfocus and irritability are just examples of this reduced performance.
In the 80ies, based on this fact, the Italian Francesco Cirillo developed a strategy that includes the capacity of performance. During his research he was using a kitchen timer in shape of a tomato which is the reason why he called his result the Pomodoro-technique.
Cirillo found out, that it is better to split big tasks into small tasks of high focus and non-distraction. That means: no smartphone! no emails! no whatever! This split considers the natural cycle of concentration, which is 25 minutes power and 5 minutes break. Another advantage is that this procedure is highly motivating as results of each single step are visible and bigger tasks seem much smaller.
The Pomodoro-technique consists out of 5 steps:
- The written formulation of the task.
- Setting a timer to 25 min.
- The processing of the task until the ringing of the time.
- Taking a break of 5min.
- Taking a longer break of 15-20 min after every 4 units.
I suppose if you try the method you will be astonished how much you can achieve in 25 minutes of focused non-distractive work. And according to the Parkinson’s principle (the less time you have the more you get done) be courage and restrictive with single Pomodoros. So better calculate a little too tightly than too generously.
I hope that you are curious to try out the method and break down your tasks into small pieces of focused work and relaxation combined with more fun and better results.
Please share with me: what are you experiences with this technique?
#timemanagement # performance #efficiency #motivation #success #focus #change
#selfimprovement #healthyhabits #workonyourself #lifecoaching #personalgrowthanddevelopment
