Pomodoro

Type				Team Size
Collaborative Tools	Software	Personal Skills	Productivity Tools	1	2-10	11-30	30+

What, Why & When

Using Pomodoro is generally a good idea when you have to get work done and don't want to lose yourself in the details as well as want to keep external distraction to a minimum. It also works brilliantly when you struggle with starting a task or procrastination in general.

Goals

• Stay productive
• Manage time effectively
• Keep distractions away
• Stay flexible within your head
• Avoid losing yourself in details

Getting started

Pomodoro is a method to self-organize, avoid losing yourself, stay productive and energized.

Pomodoro is very simple. All you need is work to be done and a timer.

There are six steps in the technique:

1. Decide on the task to be done.
2. Set the pomodoro timer (traditionally to 25 minutes = 1 "Pomodoro").
3. Work on the task.
4. End work when the timer rings (Optionally: put a checkmark on a piece of paper).
5. If you have fewer than four checkmarks (i.e. done less than 4 Pomodoros) , take a short break (5 minutes), then go back to step 2.
6. After four pomodoros, take a longer break (15–30 minutes), reset your checkmark count to zero, then start again at step 1.

Links & Further reading

Resources

• Wikipedia - Pomodoro Technique
• Extensive Description on Lifehacker
• Video description from Thomas Frank

Apps

• Best Android App: Clockwork Tomato
• Best iPhone App: Focus Keeper

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The author of this entry is Matteo Ramin.