In a world run amok with countless distractions caused by smartphones, social media, chatty colleagues, and your own wandering thoughts; how can a silly tomato possibly help you achieve more focus? Does eating a tomato give you elevated powers of concentration? No–(although throwing a tomato at some annoying person who’s talking way too loud on their cell while you’re trying to work might make you feel better).
The word tomato translates into Italian as: pomodoro. The Pomodoro Technique is a simple yet brilliant strategy used to increase one’s focus, especially when tackling a lengthy project such as writing a book or working out logistics for a new product launch.
The technique was created in the late 1980’s by an Italian university student named Francesco Cirillo. Like most students today, Cirillo not only needed to get his distractibility under control, he also needed a way to increase his ability to focus over extended periods of time. So he came up with a simple system for consistently achieving more focus and productivity–and a novelty kitchen timer (shaped like a tomato) was at the core of his method.
Here are the basics of the Pomodoro Method in 5 easy steps:
Step 1 – Select a task.
Break your biggest project down into a series of small tasks. Let’s say, for example, you need to hire 6 new sales reps for a newly-acquired regional territory. Your task list might include:
- Pulling together all the resources necessary for recruiting.
- Compiling, creating, and organizing the paperwork and procedures for new-hire onboarding.
- Coordinating the necessary training curriculum; and so on.
Decide which of these smaller tasks you’d like to tackle first.
Step 2 – 25 minutes.
Set a timer for 25 minutes. (The original Pomodoro Technique suggests using a ticking timer to add a sense of urgency.) During the 25 minutes, you are to focus solely on your task at hand. No distractions!
Step 3 – Take a break.
When the timer goes off, stop working! If you’re in mid-thought, make a note of the essential point with only a few words, (just enough so you won’t forget it) and then take a break for 3 minutes to give your mind a rest.
Step 4 – Repeat the cycle.
Set the timer for another 25 minutes, and repeat Step 2.
Step 5 – Do it in “sets” (like working out at the gym).
Implement the pattern up to four times: Work, break, work, break, etc. Continue until you’ve either completed the task or have reached four cycles of Pomodori, as they’re called. After the 4th cycle, take a break for a full 20 minutes, representing the end of one set.
Other tips to help you get the most out of this technique:
- Select a distraction-free environment to conduct your Pomodori, such as a vacant conference room, a quiet (closed-door) office, or even a parked car.
- If you don’t have a kitchen timer, use your Smartphone.
- Purists of the Pomodoro Technique recommend 25-minute cycles. If maintaining focus is truly challenging for you, start with a shorter interval. The point of the method is to train your brain to focus for a designated period of time, so even a 10-minute cycle meets the criteria.
- If you get distracted in the middle of one of your Pomodori, even if for a moment, stop–take a short break–and start the cycle again.
Whether you’re a salesperson, an attorney, a student, a writer, a web designer, a business owner, or just a regular Joe with a lot of stuff to do; this method can really help you tackle larger projects that might otherwise seem overwhelming. This approach to accomplishing goals is also used by elite athletes to build endurance. It’s called interval training.
So you can think of this technique as interval training for your brain!
To learn more about the Pomodoro Technique and why it works, check out the website www.pomodorotechnique.com
