How to Increase Your Productivity with the Pomodoro Technique

I started using the Pomodoro Technique this week and I’m amazed with the level of focus it helps me gain. I stumbled upon this productivity and focus booster technique through Oscar’s blog, the freestylemind.

Pomodoro is the Italian word for tomato, which was the source of inspiration of Francesca Pirillo in coming up with this productivity technique. It allows you to focus on one task and one task only at a time.

Take that multi-tasking, I don’t need you anymore!

So how does the Pomodoro Technique works?

First off, you will need a timer, Ms. Cirillo recommends getting the Pomodoro timer one. . Each Pomodoro represents a single task that you have to finish within 25 minutes.

It’s pretty strict. Once you start, you must suffer no interruptions. Otherwise, the Pomodoro is void! and you’ll have to start another Pomodoro.

There’s no such thing as a quarter or a half pomodoro. Each task that you list down should be completed within that amount of time. This means that if you have a big task that might require you working the whole day, you need to break down the big job into several bite-size tasks. This will allow you to complete one task in every 25 minutes.

The Pomodoro Technique also allows you to track your activities for the day. This way, you can really tell if you’ve been productive or not. We usually “feel” that the day has been productive but we’ve actually been sidetracked by Digital Distractionitis and you’ve forgotten to eliminate distractions by setting goals.

How can you apply this Pomodoro technique for yourself?

1. Go download the Pomodoro Technique ebook. It’s just about 45 pages long. You can breeze through it in one sitting. Plus there’s the cheat sheet if you want to learn it quickly.

2. Also, you will need the Pomodoro Technique resources such as the To Do List, the Activity Inventory and others.

3. Go get yourself an alarm clock, a timer, a Pomodoro timer or better yet, go download the FocusBooster app. An online timer you can install on your computer to help you be on the Pomodoro Technique. If you have trouble installing it, you gotta get the Adobe Air application first.

4. Commit to the Pomodoro Technique for at least a month to make sure you make it part of your system.

What techniques do you use to increase your productivity?

Here are some blogs dealing with the Pomodoro Technique:

The Pomodoro Technique for Time Management by Sitepoint Blogs.
Applying the Pomodoro Technique in Writing by Meryl
Using the Pomodoro Technique by WebWorker
The Pomodoro Technique Fights Deadline Anxiety with a Timer by Lifehacker.com
The Pomodoro Technique Day Six by Mark Hamilton

Some books on Productivity and Pomodoro Technique:

Tags: how to increase productivity, Lifehacks, pomodoro, pomodoro technique, pomodoro technique productivity, productivity hacks, techniques for productivity