Becoming a master of productivity is HARD and there is no one strategy that will work for everyone. As a student and young entrepreneur, I tried so many different productivity methods (Kaban, SMART goals, Eating the Frog, Eisenhower Matrix, etc.) before finding the right one for me: the Pomodoro Method.
What is the Pomodoro Method?
The Pomodoro Method is a productivity technique that helps you break a large task or assignment into smaller, more manageable pieces. This is a method you may want to try if you have a large task, like studying for a midterm examination or designing a new website for your company. By breaking a larger job into smaller pieces, you are able to celebrate your small accomplishments, focus deeply, and remain mentally fresh because you are protecting yourself from burnout.
How does it work?
- Pick a manageable task to accomplish. As an example, we will use my task of writing this blog post.
- Set a 25-minute timer
- Work on the task until the time is up. For me, that meant I was able to outline this blog post and pull together links and resources I thought would be helpful.
- Take a five-minute break
- Every four rounds of pomodoros (25-minute work sessions) take a longer 15-30 minute break. During pomodoro 1, I completed my outline and resources list. During pomodoro 2 & 3, I wrote the full blog post and formatted it on our blog. During pomodoro 4, I revised and edited the blog post. After completing all four pomodoro rounds, I took a 30-minute break and went for a short walk around the neighborhood with my dog. When I arrived back to my desk, I chose another task and started the cycle again. During a full work day as a freelancer, I usually do 4 pomodoro cycles a day.
I specifically love the Pomodoro method because when I start a task, it is often hard for me to stop or take breaks. Pre-Pomodoro method I would sit down to work, only to look up and realize that 10-12 hours had passed. Sometimes, knowing that a task was about to consume me for the better part of a day would keep me from starting the task at all, which isn’t good. The built-in breaks of the Promodoro Method allow me to focus deeply without becoming overwhelmed by a task. I also love that it feels like a game because I often try and see how much I can get done in the 25-minute session.
Click here for an incredibly useful and free Pomodoro Tracker Template to use on the Notion platform. (PRO TIP: If you aren’t already using Notion, start NOW.) If you aren’t ready to jump on the Notion train, here is a Free Pomodoro Planner Template that you can customize to your needs.
If you want to up your productivity game even further, then you should check out this video training by the one and only Reagan Pugh.
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