Why Everyone Should Be Using The Pomodro Technique

This simple time management/productivity tip keeps you on task for longer than anything I’ve tried.

In the 1980s, Francesco Cirillo developed a new time management technique using a timer he had in his kitchen, which was shaped like a tomato (or, Pomodro if you’re Italian like him).

The technique is simple. Start the timer for 25 minutes, and work. After the 25 minutes are up, take a 5 minute break and repeat. During your 25 minutes, don’t get off task and try and accomplish as much as possible.

After a few pomodros of time go past, take a little bit longer of a break. Eventually, you won’t even need the timer.

I’ve been using this technique for a little over a year now, and it’s really helped with my productivity. When I know I’m going to have a bad day, and lose focus frequently I start the timer and force a couple tasks out. After a while, the work comes more naturally.

If you’re more visual, like me, try the Forest App. Instead of tomato timers, for every 25 minutes you work you plant a tree in a little garden on your screen. They even work on planting trees in the real world for certain milestones. It tracks your phone as well, so if you get off task — the tree dies.

Whatever way you do it, just make sure you’re keeping track and staying focused. It’ll all work out.