The Pomodoro Technique is the hot time planning technique that's sweeping the world. If you haven't heard about it, do yourself a favour and read about it here.
We've been using it in the office for a couple of months now, and we've found it incredibly helpful. Work has become simultaneously more focused and playful.
Here's some tips to help make your Pomodoro experience awesome:
Be strict with finishing your Poms
One of the hardest things about using the technique is quitting in the middle of a task when the timer runs out.
"I'm almost done here, just a few more keystrokes and I'll be done!".
And before you know it, another 20 minutes go by.
The beauty of the Pomodoro technique lies in the almost physical property of the 'Pom'. If a Pom has hazy ending, then it doesn't feel like it was an actual thing. Also, the extra overtime spent at the end of the Pom isn't really all that productive. So many times I've come to a task and realised that a far better way of resolving the problem.
Respect your colleagues Poms
You know how painful it is when your Pom gets interrupted by a colleague, so don't do it to anyone else! We find ourselves asking each other in the office:
"Are you on a Pom?"
If the answer is in the affirmative then we back off and let them finish.
Time your breaks
Bzzt the timer goes off. Woo hoo! 5 minutes of break time! Before you know it you've spent 20 minutes mucking around on the internet. The technique allows for free time, but it isn't a licence to mess around all day.
Prepare for the Pom
Before I start a Pom I make sure I won't have any distractions. Some examples of Pom preparation:
Have a glass of water or refreshment within easy reach
Hide any Apps that might cause distractions. In fact, just before a Pom I like to press alt-cmd D which hides the toolbar on the mac. This means I won't notice if there's new email arrived or new skype messages.
Go to the loo
Walk around during your breaks
Do yourself a favour and get up and walk around during your breaks. Take some deep breaths. Don't waste it trawling through digg. You'll come back to the next Pom revitalised.
Use the Pomodoro Technique for boring chores around your home
It's hard to get into a boring chore at home if there's no end in sight. But, with the Pomodoro technique you KNOW it's only going to be as long as 25 minutes, so it doesn't feel so bad.
Milly and I had been wanting to tidy up the office in our house for ages, and we finally did it thanks to the Pomodoro technique, and it was easy!
Now when we have something boring to do at home one of us will say:
"Why don't we spend a Pom doing this?"
Keep an eye on the time
It's ok to keep one eye on the time, the timer doesn't have to be a surprise! This is especially useful during meetings. If the meeting organiser knows that the timer's going to go off soon then they can start winding down the meeting.
Use Pom when working from home
It's easy to get distracted when working from home, you're trying to do your tasks but you've got one eye on the laundry - or the dishes need doing.
Using the pomodoro technique nicely boxes in the time spent for doing work, and the time spent doing everything else. I actually don't mind hanging the washing out during a Pom break because it doesn't tax the mind. At the end of the day you'll realise that you've got all your work done, and kept the house in order.
