Analyzing the Pomodoro Method
In earlier posts I summarized the Pomodoro Method for time management. Since than, I have to admit, I wasn’ t able to persist in using it on a daily basis. However, I did find it to be very useful to prevent me from diving into lengthy spans of procrastination and low-productivity. Even one or two days of it, give back the feeling of actually getting stuff done. This is often enough to get everything back on track.
An important part of the Pomodoro Method is to have dedicated time assigned for a specific task, ensuring your full attention and focus. However, I believe this method mainly works for me because it decouples your breaks from your natural breaks in attention. On a normal working day you need to take breaks. Usually you will take them at times you mind starts to wander, energy is low or things start to get painful. You stopped working because you don’t feel like working anymore. Making it very hard to find motivation to start up again: it wasn’t going well when you started this break and now you don’t feel any better.
With the Pomodoro method, taking a break is fixed. Because you are forced to take it when you are in the middle of something, the feeling is entirely different. At first I felt ridiculous to take the break now, instead of just finishing your task. However, after a while, I learned that this feeling ensures that you can easily start up again after a break. As you were making good progress before taking the break, you are eager to continue and finish that task at hand.
Tags: Pomodoro, time management
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