Most of us juggle between duties with work and that of family. However, there are only so many hours in a given day to get everything that needs to be done. Unfortunately, this often leads to feelings of guilt or burnout from our lack of effectiveness. This is where the Pomodoro method for time management can come in handy for maximizing your performance.
The Pomodoro method was created by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. What this technique to boost productivity entails is allocating a set time of 25 minutes to concentrate on a task before stopping what you’re doing for a five minute break. The idea is you are limiting yourself to one task over many at a time. Doing so serves to sharpen your focus since your mind won’t wander trying to take care of too many things at once.
To begin, you need to have a kitchen timer at your disposal. Next, it can help to divide up your day and the number of tasks that you want to complete into intervals. Each thing that you want to get done should involve one block of time before that timer sounds to signal time to stop for that five minute break.
When you hear the timer ring, you can’t go further. Instead, get up from your chair if at work or put the laundry basket down or halt the cleaning and walk around, get a drink of water, a bathroom break, stretch, relax on the sofa or bed, etc. to savor every second away from the work. These few minutes from that task allow the mind and stress that come with it to lift. It also is beneficial for your health from being confined to your chair for better circulation and revives a tired body even for the shortest period of time.
After working through four tasks of 25 minutes each, you prolong the break time to 15 minutes. Knowing that you have a longer break period waiting gives you something more to look forward to. It also means that you are further along in your scheduled tasks for the day, which motivates and inspires how much you can actually do.
A five minute break may not work for you. If this is the case, the Pomodoro method is easily adaptable. You can increase your break time a few minutes longer until you find what works best for you.
Give the Pomodoro method a try. You just may find this technique limits distractions and help you with increased productivity.
