What have time management and tomatoes to do with each other? Not much, unless you talk about the pomodoro. This type of tomato is the name of a time management method, the "Pomodoro technique". It's a very simple method and I've applied it many times, based on what I read on the website and the app I installed on my smartphone. Simple, but very helpful!
Principle
The Pomodoro Technique is developed by Francesco Cirillo. A timer, a cooking timer shaped as a pomodoro, is used for timing a 25 minute working period (a 'pomodoro') followed by a 5 minute break. Then the next pomodoro starts. After 4 pomodori, a longer break can be taken. So, select a task you want to work on, set your timer and work on the task for 25 minutes. Then take a break of 5 minutes before continuing you next pomodoro.
I found that 25 minutes is a good stretch of time to work concentrated. However, I took my breaks a bit longer, especially later in the day. Five minutes to make coffee, go to the washroom, read email (of whatever I wanted to do), appeared too short for me.
I think this method can be used in addition to organizing methods like GTD (Getting Things Done). GTD helps to structure and prioritize tasks, Pomodoro techniques helps in performing tasks, to focus and avoid distraction.
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