The Pomodoro Technique is a way of managing your time for improved productivity. At Barcamp Auckland 5 today, Carol Green (@carolgreen) and Noemi Selisker (@thenoemi) gave a useful outline of the process, from a beginner’s point of view — Noemi has been using the technique for a couple of weeks, and Carol is just about to start.
I was already aware of the basic technique: work in uninterrupted 25-minute bursts, followed by a 5-minute break. This 30-minute cycle is called a Pomodoro. If a Pomodoro is interrupted, you have to start the timer again. After four Pomodoros, have a longer break of 15-30 minutes.
Carol and Noemi fleshed out these rules with descriptions of how you should plan your day’s work beforehand, and evaluate it at the end. This is important for efficiency, but also for motivation — it’s easier to stick with the technique if you can see the progress you’re making. The final rule is to remember that “The Next Pomodoro Will Go Better”.
I have downloaded the Pomodoro Technique Book and will try the technique for myself in the coming weeks.