{"id":16371,"date":"2022-03-24T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-24T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/?p=16371"},"modified":"2023-12-05T08:51:42","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T13:51:42","slug":"time-management-blog-series-pomodoro-technique","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sourcelive.hr.msu.edu\/?p=16371","title":{"rendered":"Time Management Blog Series: Pomodoro Technique"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Updated March 2023<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you juggling multiple, competing priorities? Do you feel like you\u2019re busy all the time but are still not getting things done? If so, you\u2019re certainly not alone. Time management is an area where most of us could use additional practice and skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over a series of posts, we\u2019ll highlight various time management techniques to give you different tools to utilize depending on your needs, preferences and work style. The reality is that the best time management technique is the one you\u2019ll actually use and stick with, so give different approaches a try and see what works best for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll focus here on leveling up your time management skills with the Pomodoro Technique<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pomodoro Technique: What It Is<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As bizarre as it may seem to think of time management in units of tomatoes (Pomodoro is Italian for tomato), millions of people swear by the Pomodoro Technique. This popular time management method has you alternate pomodoros \u2014 focused, 25-minute work sessions \u2014 with frequent, short breaks to promote sustained concentration and reduce fatigue and burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developed in the late 1980s by overwhelmed Italian university student Francesco Cirillo, Cirillo asked himself to commit to just 10 minutes of focused study time. Encouraged by the challenge, he found a tomato\/pomodoro shaped kitchen timer, and the Pomodoro technique was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How It Works<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1 pomodoro = 25-minute focused work session + 5-minute break<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Pick one project or task you want to focus on.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Set a timer for 25 minutes and focus on that single task until the timer goes off.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Mark off one pomodoro and record what you completed. Use whatever medium you prefer \u2014 perhaps an Excel spreadsheet, a physical notebook or an online project management tool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Take a five-minute break.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Go back to Step 1 and repeat the process until you\u2019ve completed 4 pomodoros.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Then, take a longer, more restorative break in the 15\u201330-minute range.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Who Will It Benefit?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    While the Pomodoro Technique can work well for just about anyone, it may be an especially good fit if you meet any of these criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n