Eat that Frog with a Pomodoro:

Muhammad Larab
Aug 23, 2017 · 3 min read
Pomodoro technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. These intervals are named pomodoros, the plural in English of the Italian word pomodoro (tomato), after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used as a university student.Closely related to concepts such as time boxing and iterative and incremental development used in software design, the method has been adopted in pair programming contexts.

There are six steps in the technique:

  1. Decide on the task to be done.
  2. Set the pomodoro timer (traditionally to 25 minutes).
  3. Work on the task until the timer rings.
  4. After the timer rings put a check mark on a piece of paper.
  5. If you have fewer than four checkmarks, take a short break (3–5 minutes), then go to step 2.
  6. After four pomodoros, take a longer break (15–30 minutes), reset your checkmark count to zero, then go to step 1.

The stages of planning, tracking, recording, processing and visualizing are fundamental to the technique. In the planning phase tasks are prioritized by recording them in a “To Do Today List”. This enables users to estimate the effort tasks require. As pomodoros are completed, they are recorded, adding to a sense of accomplishment and providing raw data for subsequent self-observation and improvement. For the purposes of the technique, a pomodoro is the interval of time spent working. After task completion, any time remaining in the pomodoro is devoted to over learning. Regular breaks are taken, aiding assimilation. A short (3–5 minutes) rest separates consecutive pomodoros. Four pomodoros form a set. A longer (15–30 minute) rest is taken between sets.A goal of the technique is to reduce the impact of internal and external interruptions on focus and flow. A pomodoro is indivisible. When interrupted during a pomodoro, either the other activity must be recorded and postponed or the pomodoro must be abandoned.


My Experience:

I do work in my daily routine by not making to-do list, but everyone has its own way to handle work or a technique to meet deadline. Similarly i have a technique to complete my tasks which is similar to pomodoro. Such as i make a plan to complete my work in my mind, and divide my task into sub-tasks and then start working on it.

It was my first time that I tired the pomodoro technique of working under the time limit. In the beginning when I started first time and I was working I had an issue that I was continuously thinking that I am getting out of time and I have to rush in order to complete my given task.

In the beginning I got problems and I started losing my concentration. Later on my third try I started getting motivated and I accomplished my work early as compared to I did before. I am for sure planning to do this more often to keep myself on my toes.

In order to improve my experience further in future I am planning to first organize my to-do list more clearly with time limits and daily I would try using the time limit for my most important tasks in order to accomplish them and get myself away from procrastination.

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