Four tomatoes can boost your productivity

This article is intended for someone looking for a way to increase productivity.

Tomatoes are in my DNA. As a young girl, I watched my Nunu (Italian grandfather) pick tomatoes from his garden for my Nana (Italian grandmother) so she could make her homemade sauce. Before using the Pomodoro Technique, four tomatoes would be used to make a small tomato salad, now I use them to boost my productivity.

The Pomodoro Technique uses a timer to break down a task into 25-minute intervals of work separated by short breaks, use 5-minutes to start. The time management tool uses a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato (the Italian word is “pomodoro”). It was developed in the late 1980s by Francesco Cirillo and has since been used by various professionals and organizations to promote productivity.

Steps in the Pomodoro Technique

1. Choose a task to be accomplished
2. Set the pomodoro to 25 minutes
3. Work on the task until the pomodoro buzzes, then put a check mark on your sheet of paper
4. Take a short break (5 minutes to start), this represents the completion of one “Pomodoro”
5. Every four Pomodoros, take a longer break (15-30 minutes)

There are three essential components of the Pomodoro Technique: plan out each pomodoro, take breaks, and eliminate distractions.

I used the Pomodoro Technique to write this blog. Let me walk you through a real-life example.

Step 1: Choose a task My task was to write a technical blog post. I decided to divide my work into four intervals (Pomodoros) and prepare my workspace. Pre-pomodoro prep included: pomodoro (kitchen time), pen, paper, computer and cup of water.

Step Two: I set the Pomodoro to 25 minutes Thank you, old kitchen timer purchased specifically for my baby shower. It is beneficial to hear the timer ticking so your brain knows that you are working for a specific timeframe. If you don’t have a kitchen time, you can download a timer on your computer or phone. Click for here recommendations.

Step Three: Work on task until the Pomodoro buzzes, then put a check mark on your sheet of paper I started to brainstorm topics and ideas for my technical blog post until I heard the Pomodoro buzz. I stopped what I was doing then put a check mark after my first pomodoro. In order to be successful, eliminate all distractions. If you think of something during the working period, quickly write it down then return to the task at hand.

Step Four: Take a short break I started to brainstorm topics and ideas for my technical blog post until I heard the Pomodoro buzz. I stopped what I was doing then put a check mark after my first pomodoro. In order to be successful, eliminate all distractions. If you think of something during the working period, quickly write it down then return to the task at hand.

Step Five: Every four Pomodoros, take a longer break. After my short break, I repeated steps two-four for three more intervals using the plan established in step one to complete my full cycle. Breaks two and three included: putting away dishes and switching out laundry.

Give it a try and let me know if your productivity has increased by connecting with me on Twitter @melissammcmahon.