Learn my Pomodoro Technique in 3 minutes
The Pomodoro technique is the coolest brain hack that works. At its core, it is a productivity technique; a time management method that tricks your mind to work efficiently and with a sense of urgency.
Most people think it is difficult to focus today. There are countless distractions all around us. You might unknowingly spend hours on your phone scrolling through social media even when you have a work deadline. How do you tell your mind to work with unwavering focus?
Gamification — Get your dopamine fix while doing important work
An example of a result of the Pomodoro technique is this post that you are reading right now. I am using this technique to sit down and write, week after week. I have always wanted to write but I kept putting it off for tomorrow or next week or next month. With Pomodoro, I have been able to finish my task of writing weekly with ease. And over time, I have used this method to do many other tasks quite efficiently.
How to Gamify your work
The brain likes Dopamine, also known as the reward chemical. When you finish a task, the brain secrets Dopamine which gives you a sense of reward and motivation. This makes you feel good. The Pomodoro technique works on this work and reward cycle.
#1: Make a list of tasks. List down the tasks that you will perform with this technique. An example could be writing or doing house chores.
#2: Set a timer for 25 minutes. Select the most important task and set a timer for 25 minutes. It could be 20 minutes or 30 minutes, it doesn’t matter. You can use the clock app on your phone. I just google “timer for 25 minutes” on a web browser.
#3: Work till the timer rings. Immerse yourself in the task for the next 25 minutes. While the timer is running, nothing exists in the world except you and the task. If you get a notification on your phone, ignore it. In case your mind wanders to another task that you have to do, just write it down for later.
#4: When the timer rings, put a tick. You have now spent 25 dedicated minutes on your task. There were no interruptions and the quality of your work will reflect your efforts.
#5: Reward yourself. Breathe, chill, grab a coffee or listen to music. Do what resets your brain and relaxes you. This should be a 5-minute break.
#6: Rinse and Repeat. You can reset the timer and start all over again till your work is completed. It is that simple.
You will be surprised how effective the Pomodoro Technique can be for accomplishing tasks on time. For me, it has lived up to its promises of making me more productive and focused. Many people have broken their entire day into sessions of 25+5 minutes and seen a great improvement. Zoning in on one task at hand rather than multi-tasking is something I am trying to actively choose and it is working for me.
In case you have used the Pomodoro Technique before or started using it after reading this, do let me know your thoughts.
