buzzing tool: The pomodoro timer

The Pomodoro Timer method structures your work and break times to help you stay focused. While many time management tools include it, you can use any alarm clock or even a kitchen timer to put it into practice.

Most of us struggle with staying focused, often getting distracted by emails, social media, or other thoughts. Despite the typical 8-hour workday, a survey of almost 2000 office workers in the UK found that, on average, people were “working productively” for a bit less than 3 hours daily. The Pomodoro Timer can help you make the most of your productive time.

The Pomodoro technique is straightforward: work for 25 minutes, then take a 5 to 10-minute break. After four work intervals, take a longer break of 20-30 minutes. The method’s name comes from the original creator’s use of a tomato-shaped kitchen timer ("pomodoro" is Italian for tomato). The timer’s turning and ticking serves as a reminder of your commitment to stay focused.

Although some claims about the method are not yet supported by specific research, humans do learn better by spacing out activities and taking breaks, rather than trying to complete everything in one go. Minimizing distractions in our digital age and setting specific goals also helps improve focus and productivity.

Mae used to sit at her desk, determined to finish her tasks without getting up, however long it might have taken. But distractions and slow progress often turned a 3-hour task into a 2-day ordeal. She started testing the Pomodoro technique, using an old kitchen timer which helped her put her phone out of reach. She focused solely on the task for 25 minutes and pushed distractions to her break time, which was predictable. After each work interval, she felt more encouraged by her progress. The structured breaks also gave her a more realistic perspective on how long it took to complete the work.

By structuring your work and break times, you can establish a realistic rhythm and increase your overall productivity. Over time, you can adjust the intervals to suit your needs, but if you’re new to this, start with the standard timing to get the hang of it.

The Pomodoro technique has been developed by Francesco Cirillo. You can find instructions here, but many online time management tools also have integrated the method in their product.