Recently I am building up a new habit – ‘Getting Things Done.’ using the Pomodoro technique. And it is tough, but I am beating it. Not heavily but marginally.
Well, first of all, you need to understand what is the Pomodoro technique and how it will help you to get things done?
A Pomodoro technique is the interval of time spent working.
A goal of the technique is to reduce the impact of internal and external interruptions on focus and flow. A Pomodoro is indivisible; when interrupted during a Pomodoro, either the other activity must be recorded and postponed (using the inform – negotiate – schedule – call back strategy) or the Pomodoro must be abandoned.
So, What’s the secret sauce?
There are six steps in the original technique:
- Decide on the task to be done.
- Set the Pomodoro timer (traditionally to 25 minutes).
- Work on the task.
- End work when the timer rings and put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
- If you have fewer than four checkmarks, take a short break (3–5 minutes) and then return to step 2; otherwise continue to step 6.
- After four pomodoros, take a longer break (15–30 minutes), reset your checkmark count to zero, then go to step 1.
After task completion in a Pomodoro, any time remaining could be devoted to activities such as:
- Review and edit the work just completed.
- Review the activities from a learning point of view: What did I learn? What could I do better or differently?
- Review the list of upcoming tasks for the next planned Pomodoro time blocks, and start reflecting on or updating those tasks.
The secret sauce is persistence, patient, and passion. Things take sometimes, and good things come who is persistent. And to beat the distraction and keep the momentum, you have to practice. I mean a lot of practice. How am I doing?
I am keeping up simple.
- Define tasks with end results in mind.
- Define the time box before start and pause.
- Be S.M.A.R.T – (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely).
- Most importantly, – Have fun.