This Tomato Improves Your Writing

Since the late ’80s, this technique has helped countless people manage their time efficiently while increasing productivity and adding discipline to their workflow. Let me break it down.

Do you struggle with procrastination when you’re writing?

Are you constantly distracted by your phone or the need to check your emails?

As remote workers, we all struggle with getting tasks done in a timely and productive manner. That’s where the Pomodoro Technique helped me.

Let’s face it, when we’re working from home, no-one is looking over our shoulder and asking if we’ve finished that report yet.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll sometimes get to the end of the day and wonder, “what did I do today?”.

Well, wonder no more. When you adopt the Pomodoro Technique, you’ll know what you can get accomplished every day. Plus, you’ll get more done than you ever could before.

What Is The Pomodoro Technique?

This innovative time management tool was invented by Francesco Cirillo while completing his university studies back in the late 1980s. Pomodoro is the Italian word for tomato. Cirillo decided to call his invention the Pomodoro Technique because he used a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato to help him complete his studies.

The idea is to set a timer for a set time, say 25 to 30 minutes, depending on the type of timer that you use. Once you set the timer, begin working on your project, and stay focused until the timer goes off.

Then you can take a short 5-minute break and reset the timer so you can work for another 25 or 30 minutes. While you’re doing this, you’ll put a mark on a checklist every time the timer goes off. Once the timer has gone off four times, you can have a more extended break for say 20 or 30 minutes.

Let’s explore the process in more depth.

The Pomodoro Process Step-By-Step

Step 1: Write Down The Tasks You Need To Get Done Today

As this process uses a mechanical timer (I’ll explain why a little later), it’s a good idea to record your progress on a piece of paper or even in a work journal.

Open your journal at the beginning of your day and make a list of the tasks you want to complete. Ideally, do this the night before to avoid any procrastination in the morning.

Step 2: Set Your Timer

For this technique to be effective, it’s better to use a mechanical timer than your phone or laptop. If you use your phone, it’s far too easy to get distracted by checking it constantly to see how much time is left.

I know, I’ve tried it, and it just doesn’t work.

You end up checking messages and emails, and before you even notice, another ten minutes have passed without you getting any actual work done.

So, get yourself a mechanical timer instead. Just the act of setting the timer confirms that you’re going to stay focused on the task at hand until the timer goes off.

Step 3: Work!

Once the timer starts, get to work and stay focused on the task until the timer goes off. During this time, don’t let anything else distract you. Ignore the phone if it rings and ignore any email notifications.

If you suddenly remember something else you need to do, just write it in your journal so you can attend to it later.

Step 4: Mark Your Time

When the timer rings, put a check-mark next to the task in your journal. Not only does this confirm that you’ve just spent a focused amount of time on the task but it’s also a record of how much time you spent working on it.

This can be extremely useful if you change your work out by the hour, or you need to determine how long each project takes.

It can also serve as a guide for when you’re quoting future projects.

Step 5: Enjoy A Five Minute Break

What can you do in five minutes? This short break allows your brain to relax, so use the time to make a cup of coffee or tea or take a short walk outside. If you have a new habit you want to develop, you could even create a quick stretching routine or use the time to meditate.

Try to do something which is not work-related.

Step 6: Have A Longer Break After Completing 4 Pomodoros

Once you have four check-marks against your task, you can allow yourself a longer break. Ideally, this could be 20 or 30 minutes. It’s enough time to grab lunch or a snack, take a long walk, or catch up with your emails or messages.

This gives your brain time to unwind and contemplate what you’ve just done. You’ll also feel satisfied with the productivity levels with which you’ve worked on your tasks.

This feeling of accomplishment releases endorphins in your brain, which are essential for your overall well being. If you stick to it and train yourself to chase this feeling as a reward, you’ll soon trick your mind out of procrastination and enjoy productivity.

Why Does This Technique Work So Well?

Breaking your tasks down into short sessions of focused work means you’ll get more done and in less time without distractions. We all know how impossible it feels to begin confronting a mammoth task.

However, by breaking down the task into achievable goals and setting tiny deadlines that propel you forward, you can reframe your obstacle into a collection of simple tasks.

Let’s say you have five articles to write in 3 days. To your brain, this seems like a huge task. Whenever you think about it, procrastination sets in. You have trouble even getting started.

By telling yourself that you’re going to work on this task in stages, you’re breaking it down into much smaller and digestible pieces that you know you can complete.

It helps you to stave off procrastination and to get to work knowing you’ll at least complete one Pomodoro’s worth of work if not the whole task.

Using the Pomodoro Technique also creates a sense of urgency.

You know that there are only a set number of hours in your workday and a set amount of tasks you have to get done. Therefore, each 25 to 30 minute period, you need to get as much done as possible.

Ultimately, this eliminates distractions by staying focused on the task at hand rather than checking your emails every 5 minutes. Remember, emails are supposed to make our work more productive, not to distract us constantly.

Use This Technique In Other Areas Of Your Life

Guess what? You don’t have to only use the Pomodoro Technique with your writing tasks. You can easily use it in other areas of your life as well.

As an example, earlier this year, I faced the task of having to move house. This meant packing, decluttering, and deep cleaning. However, I still needed to get work done every day.

At first, I felt overwhelmed with all the tasks I had to get done.

How was I going to manage it all? Easy! I used Pomodoro.

I broke all my tasks down into bite-sized pieces. So, I would sit at my desk and work for an hour, and then I would spend the next hour packing a few boxes or doing some cleaning.

This meant that at the end of the day I could relax. I’d achieved both some work and also some tasks related to the move. I even made a list of all the tasks associated with moving house and ticked them off when they were complete.

Give It A Try: You’ll Be Pleasantly Surprised How Well It Works

If you work remotely and you’re constantly plagued by procrastination, I urge you to give the Pomodoro Technique a good try. I guarantee you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how well it works and how much more you will achieve each day.