How My $6 Investment In a Single Tomato Is Helping Me Dramatically Improve Focus & Boost Productivity
I recently invested $6 to buy a single tomato to help me improve focus and improve productivity… and the investment paid off big time!
Let me clarify… I did not spend $6 on a real tomato… it was a mechanical kitchen timer that looked like a tomato.
Let me explain why.
Do you ever have unproductive days? Get distracted easily? Feel drained due to multi-tasking? Struggling to get things done?
If you answered YES to one or all of these questions, the tomato could be the solution you’re looking for!
Ok, let me clarify… it’s not really about the tomato! It’s about thinking in terms of tomatoes rather than hours. You’re probably thinking “what is this guy talking about?”. The concept may seem silly at first, but millions of people use the Pomodoro Technique. (Pomodoro is Italian for tomato.)
The Pomodoro Technique could be your secret to achieving increased productivity.
Why is the Time Management Method called Pomodoro?
The time management method was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. Each interval is known as a pomodoro, from the Italian word for ‘tomato’, after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used as a university student.
How Does the Pomodoro Technique Work?
The simplicity and effectiveness of this technique are its biggest strengths. In summary, the technique will require the following steps;
- Create a project and task to-do list (digital or paper — your choice)
- Estimate how many 25-minute or 55-minute blocks of time it will take to complete a task.
- Prioritize your projects and tasks.
- Schedule the tasks into your calendar (ask your assistant to schedule for you if you struggle to do this).
- Get a timer. You can use a desk timer, phone timer, or even a mechanical timer (if the ticking sound does not annoy you!)
- When the arrives to work on the task eliminate any form of distraction.
- Set 25 minutes (or 55 minutes) on your timer and concentrate on only one task until the expiration of the 25 minutes, signaled by the timer’s alarm
- At the expiration of your session, check off one Pomodoro and pen down the accomplished task (or check it off your task list)
- Take a five-minute break
- After 4 x 25 minute sessions or 2 x 55 minute sessions take a longer break (This will help refresh you).
When you first try this, it’s gonna feel awkward, don’t give up. Millions of people swear by the Pomodoro Technique.
Note: You don’t really need to buy a $6 Tomato shaped kitchen timer, I bought it because it sits on my desk and reminds to use the Pomodoro Technique, and I use it to teach others.
Beejel Parmar
Helping overwhelmed overworked overstretched entrepreneurs become more efficient and boost productivity with focused planning, organization, productivity accountability & outsourcing busy work to virtual assistants.
