The Pomodoro Method is a time management technique that involves breaking up your workday into chunks to improve productivity. It was invented by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980’s and named after the tomato-shaped timer he used while attending university.
The idea behind the Pomodoro Method is that working without breaks exhausts your mind, and the longer you work, the less focused and clear-headed you become. With this method, you can mitigate mental exhaustion, making it one of the helpful tools for writers.
How to Use the Pomodoro Method
This technique involves working for 25 minutes at one specific task (like finishing a chapter, answering emails, writing a blog post, etc.) and then taking a 5-minute break. After 4 cycles, or pomodoros, you take a longer break. During the work minutes, you focus only on work and nothing else; don’t allow anything to distract you. Then, during the break, your mind is allowed to rest and rejuvenate, giving you more energy and clarity when you get back to work. The method trains your brain to stay focused and can help improve attention span and concentration.
The time intervals have been established through study and experimentation, but if you don’t feel they are working for you, you can always experiment with different times.
Tools for Writers: Pomodoro Timer Apps
Interested in trying the Pomodoro Method? There are a lot of free apps that will keep track of the intervals for you.
A customizable timer available only as a web app. Your timer is given a unique URL that you can share with others. It is completely free.
A customizable timer that is available on desktop, web, and mobile. It includes time tracking and reporting. The free version gives you 20 Pomodoro sessions a month; the paid options give you additional sessions and features.
There are a lot of free mobile apps you can get to—just search for pomodoro timer in your phone’s store.
We hope this post on helpful tools for writers helps you find the improve your time management skills using the Pomodoro Method. What time management technique do you use? We’d love to hear in the comments below!
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