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Pomodoro Technique – The Paradise of Study and Work!
Give yourself a minute (you'll find this funny later) and imagine that neglected task that's been constantly weighing on you. Wouldn't it be great to finally shake off this bogeyman? The sole purpose of the Pomodoro technique is to provide a tool for desperate students, procrastinators, and world leaders alike to tackle impossible tasks. Find out why it works and how you can get the most out of yourself even against the odds!
"Where does the name come from, tell me, where does the name come from?" – Lil Frakk
What's interesting about this technique is that it wasn't devised by a 50-year-old management guru, but by a university student as desperate as you. When Francesco Cirillo got tired of his inability to concentrate on his tasks, he grabbed a timer and commanded himself: just 10 minutes!
Surprisingly, this quirky method worked. As long as the legendary tomato-shaped timer – "pomodoro" in Italian – was ticking, Franco could study with full force. From here, it's not hard to guess, "Where does the name come from?"
But how does the Pomodoro technique work?
We asked around our office, and unfortunately, we found that although many of our colleagues know about it, no one really uses it. So we looked into why and how you should start using this straightforward efficiency-boosting technique.
Let's start with what evolved from Franco's 10-minute technique and what we call Pomodoro today. The first and most important feature is that it's completely free, and many apps now support it (more on these later). The basic principle is as follows:
- Decide which specific task you want to focus on.
- Prepare, both in terms of time (1-2 hours) and tools (timer, stopwatch, time tracking apps, etc.).
- Start the Pomodoro sessions (15-5-15-5-15-5-15 and the 15-minute long break).
- Finally, admire your work 😛.
Why is the Pomodoro technique good?
Despite seeming simple, it provides much more complex aid than you might think.
Firstly, the fixed schedule gives back that long-lost motivation that can help you through these impossible challenges. But that's not all.
The trick of this schedule is that no matter how many tasks you have ahead of you, you can always see the light at the end of the tunnel, which subconsciously makes your motivation sustainable. Additionally, the productive sprints provide a sense of accomplishment that makes it worth continuing.
This is more than enough reason to give productivity a chance, but the arguments in its favor aren't over yet. It's easy to start, it manages both your time and energy, eliminates distractions, and even breaks down daunting tasks.
You're not alone!
Let's be clear, there is no perfect method for everyone, so it's worth doing extra research if you want to bring some order to your hectic tasks. Moreover, introducing a new routine will take time and energy, but don't give up—it's worth taking back control over your life. The Pomodoro is a simple method, and numerous apps can help support your focused work.
Our 3 favorites:
- PomaFocus is a nifty little app that allows you to add tasks and is as simple as 1×1.
- Forest and Focus-to-do offer a level-up professional time management system that can provide solid ground amid chaos.
Want to try out this cool new technique in a practical setting? Check out our current open positions or find a practical placement in our professional career program offerings!
