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Streamline your workday with the Pomodoro Technique

Find your flow with this focus method that’s as simple as setting a timer.

2 min read

Distracted at work?

If you’re looking to bring more structure to your workday, try the Pomodoro Technique. This technique breaks your day into a simple, repeating pattern of working sessions and breaks, which can make even the most daunting task seem manageable.

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How the Pomodoro Technique works

The key to the Pomodoro Technique is its simplicity — all you need to follow these six steps is a timer:

1. Select one or more tasks that you want to work on.

2. Set a timer for 25 minutes and start working.

3. Take a short break, 2-5 minutes.

4. Repeat steps 2-3 until you’ve completed four working sessions.

5. Take a longer break, 15-30 minutes.

6. Repeat steps 2-5.

The video above shows the Pomodoro Technique in action. In the video, a writer uses the technique to organize her day, dedicating individual sessions to brainstorming character traits, editing a chapter, and drafting.

These sessions are punctuated by the built-in breaks, during which the writer steps away from her desk. After a cup of coffee or a workout, she’s ready to dive back into her work.

The next time you’ve got a big project to deliver, why not give this focus method a go?

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