Work more brilliant, not harder, with the Pomodoro technique, the life hack that could change how you manage your time forever.
It’s an old cliché, but time is our most precious commodity, and in the hustle and bustle of modern life, it’s becoming increasingly scarce. Designed to stop procrastination, this method may be just the structure you need to become a superhuman overachiever.
The Pomodoro technique enables users to ramp up their efficiency by breaking their working time into 25-minute chunks and taking a five-minute break. After four ‘Pomodoro’ sessions, you take a longer break of 15 to 20 minutes. Strict timing is encouraged to structure optimum efficacy.
The theory is that timed segments instill urgency, making each session supercharged. Short breaks help combat burnout and promote herculean levels of focus and concentration.
Dr. Rashmi Byakodi, a health and wellness writer remarks:
“The goal is to break down larger jobs into smaller ones by working uninterruptedly for some time and then taking breaks to calm your mind. It is critical to take regular breaks to function efficiently. You will feel accomplished once you have completed each Pomodoro and get a blueprint of your productivity.
“Short breaks help to combat getting burnt out and promote herculean levels of focus and concentration.”
“Working on a task for long periods might lead to cognitive dullness. Such exhaustion supports a mind that is disengaged. Cognitive ennui reduces your focus, but adopting a work-break-work schedule can help you overcome this problem.”
While extremely beneficial for some, matters of the mind are never a one-size-fits-all miracle cure, as Billy Roberts, a therapist and ADHD specialist, attests.
“The Pomodoro technique works. However, some common pitfalls can derail its effectiveness. First, many folks see the short break between stopping and starting the task they’re focusing on as an opportunity to start another task. The Pomodoro works best when people take a ‘brain break’, between tasks and do something physical or soothing but not something they’ll get engrossed in doing. Another pitfall is not externalizing the time limits. Setting the timer for both the task and the break is important to ensure you stay on track.”
“Designed to stop procrastination in its tracks, this method may be just the structure you need to become a superhuman overachiever.”
If all it takes is dusting off a timer to start working with time instead of against it, Pomodoro is one strategy we can get behind.
Only time will tell.
Short on time? Here’s the Joe Wicks 24-minute HIIT Workout.
