Pomodoro : Effective Time Management Technique
Tags: productivity, time
Published: 2021-05-26 10:37:42



##Darling Distraction
"_It's barely 7:00PM, I'll just reply the next couple of messages then get to work..._", I told myself the seventh time.

It was a September evening in 2018, I had to prepare for an interview which was 2 days away from the said day. As important as excellent performance is to me,  I had myself caught in between a seamless flow of WhatsApp messages. I knew, I had to call it quit, but I couldn't bring myself to it.  I decided to _shift between worlds_ of replying the messages and preparing for the interview every 10minutes. Alas! It worked! 

I got to know - the plan of alternating study and replying the messages is a full blown productivity technique called **Pomodoro Technique** 

Let's explore! 

##What's Pomodoro ?
Literally, _pomodoro_ is the Italian word for 'tomato'.

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s

The technique is named after the tomato shaped kitchen timer which Cirillo used as a university student

Basically, Promodoro Technique involves breaking down tasks into 25 minutes of work (called _pomodoros_) 5 minutes break and a 15 - 25 minutes break after each pomodoro

##All hail Pomodoro
After getting to know about Pomodoro, 
*  I start out by estimating time allowed for task at hand.
* As opposed to the Cirillo specification I take 7minutes break after each pomodoro and 
* a 15-25 minutes break after 4 pomodoros.

The keynote is to perform task at hand for for minutes without yeilding to distractions then take short break after each section (pomodoro)

## The Cirillo way
The Pomodoro Technique is organised into six incremental objectives


1. **Find out how much effort an activity requires**

2. **Cut down on interruptions**
 Usually, you can afford to take 25 minutes before calling back a friend or replying to an email. You’ll learn how to handle the inevitable interruption while staying focused on the task at hand.

3. **Estimate the effort for activities**
Once you’ve gotten the hang of the technique, you’ll be able to accurately predict how many Pomodoros it will take to accomplish tomorrow’s -- or next month’s -- tasks.

4. **Make the Pomodoro more effective While the contours of the Pomodoro are set**, what you do within them can be adjusted to maximize efficiency. One way to make a Pomodoro more effective is to use the first few minutes to review what you’ve done before. Other methods are discussed in the book.

5. **Set up a timetable**
A timetable sets a limit, motivating you to complete a task within a set period of time. It also delineates your work time from your free time. Creating a clear timetable will allow you to enjoy your time off without worrying that you could be doing more work.


6. **Define your own objectives**
The Pomodoro Technique is a tool you can use to reach your own objectives. For example, a writer might realize he’s spending too much time revising, and adjust his Pomodoro timetable to allow for more brainstorming time. [1](https://francescocirillo.com/pages/pomodoro-technique
)

##Summary
That's all there is to it, I'm glad you read it all the way down here. Let's take a peek at the keynotes

- estimate time allowed
- Work through each section, Go over the task again untill the pomodro is completed
- take short break to avoid burn out
- take longer break to avoid psychological stress

Thank you
###Refrence List
1.https://francescocirillo.com/pages/pomodoro-technique