What is a Pomodoro?

Dan Shultz — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 23:29:40 +0000

It’s a new year and time to get re-focused for 2011. Personally, I struggle with time management and next to myself; time is one of my worst enemies.

A long time ago (thanks to Dave Ramsey) I learned that, to properly balance my budget and live within my means, I must spend every dollar I bring in on Paper. I must tell each dollar I earn exactly where to go or they will just go. This does not mean I physically must spend each dollar but it does mean that I need to have a category where each dollar gets assigned.

When it comes to my time, I find that it just goes. Sometimes I have no idea where it went or how I spent it and then I look at the things I still need to accomplish. At this point I may start to thrash back and forth on tasks and end up wasting lots of time.

Through the tweets of some of my agile friends, I caught some tweets referencing how much they accomplished using the “Pomodoro Technique” or talking about how many Tomatoes they accomplished today. Upon some investigation, I discovered a time management technique that seems to really work for me.

The basic work flow is…

Make a To Do List
Start a timer do 25 minutes of solid, distraction free work on a task. (If you get distracted, you must start your time over)
Record your Pomodoro and possibly cross off a completed task.
Take a 3-5 minute break
Repeat for 4-5 cycles
After the 5th cycle, take an extended break (about 30 minutes)
Rinse and Repeat

The reason time management technique works well for me compared to other techniques is because it provides you with constant feedback and the ability to see the progress you are making on paper (recording how many Pomodoros you have completed and crossing off completed tasks). It also teaches you how to step back from your task and take a chance to refocus yourself which allows you to keep the proper perspective on your task. Finally, this technique helps you push off distractions that typically impede or prevent you from getting side tracked and make you less productive.

While the concept is not necessarily new, the packaging of the technique and the formula really help ensure you stay focused and on track. Additionally, like proper budgeting, it prevents your time from just going! The full details on how to build your to do list and help eliminate your distractions can be found as a Free PDF download