The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique by Francesco Cirillo is a time management method that reminds me of some of the basic principles behind mindfulness meditation: break things down into smaller more manageable units and focus primarily on one thing for a specific interval of time to develop concentration. It also reminds me of learning strategies I came across from reading Tony Buzan’s books on mind mapping which transformed by experience as a college student.

The basic unit of work in the Pomodoro Technique can be summarized in five steps:

1. Choose a task
2. Set a timer to twenty-five minutes
3. Work on the task until the timer rings, then put a check on your sheet of paper
4. Take a short break (about five minutes)
5. After every four rounds, take a longer break

Download a free pdf version of The Pomodoro Technique and a free timer app from Focus Booster (or just use the live desktop version).

[Thanks Web Worker Daily!]