When working on important tasks, it’s very easy to spend a good chunk of time doing nothing but that task, then crashing – finding yourself spent for the rest of the day.
It’s easy to do: We get in the Zone where we’re most productive and just power through until the gas tank is empty. Productive in the short term but not optimal when we have multiple tasks or pressing deadlines.
What can we do to pace ourselves to ensure a steady productive state that’s sustainable of a longer time frame or project’s lifetime?
I have found the “Pomodoro Technique” works well for me in these situations.
Also known as the tomato technique (pomodoro is Italian for tomato), this method was developed by entrepreneur Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, when he was a university student in Italy.
Looking for ways to keep productive in the face of the intense demands of a student, Cirillo started to use his kitchen’s tomato-shaped timer to organize his study schedule – setting dedicated work and non-work time periods.
The basic method is very simple:
- Select the task you want to complete (only one task at a time)
- Set the timer to 25-minutes and work on the task until the timer goes off
- Take a 5-minute break to stretch, use the toilet, get a drink/snack, etc.
- Repeat 3 or 4 times, then take a longer 15-30 minute break (or end the work on the task for today)
Key to making this effective is to stay focused on the single task while avoiding any distractions – no email, social media, phone calls, etc. during the “pomodoro”. Just do the task and nothing else.
Some people vary the time of the “pomodoro” sprint (“pomodori” in plural), maybe 20 or 30 minutes or shortening the break times or even recording the progress made during each segment.
For me, I find that 25-minute pomodori work perfectly, along with a 5-minute break between each one. Generally, I block out 90-minutes per task per day, so 3 pomodori and breaks will be my limit on a task.
As I’ve written about before, breaking large tasks down into daily sprints helps to relieve self-imposed stress and doubt. Further adding the Pomodoro Technique gives me a bit more structure and productivity on a daily basis – and ensures that by the end of the week I can see definite progress on my projects.
Give it a try and see how it works for you. If you want to learn more about The Pomodoro Technique, Cirillo has written a book about it, which you can find here.
Let me know if you use this technique or other methods to stay focused and productive. Good luck!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
👦🏻 I’m Paul Meyers and I’m a serial founder with multiple exits and 30+ years of leading teams in Asia
💡I coach founders and senior executive of fast-growing companies around the world, helping them develop the skills and confidence they need to build world-class teams and companies
📓 If you’re interested in coaching for yourself, your team or your company, type the word “coaching” below.
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