Last Updated on April 17, 2023 by Andy Park
You know the feeling: that sinking sensation in your gut when you’re overwhelmed by work, drowning in a sea of deadlines, and every time you try to swim to the surface, the waves of procrastination push you back down. Yeah, I’ve been there too. Luckily, I’ve found my flotation device in the Pomodoro Technique, a time management method that has me slicing and dicing my work into bite-sized, 25-minute chunks with breaks in between. Life’s a beach now, baby!
In this post, I’ll share the two ways the Pomodoro Technique keeps me afloat in the ocean of productivity. Grab your swimsuit, towel, and a fruity drink – we’re diving in!
Oh, if you prefer a video version of this, check out my YouTube video below. Otherwise, read on!
Use Case 1: Slaying the Procrastination Monster
Procrastination is the beast that lurks beneath the waves, waiting to drag us down. But with the Pomodoro Technique, I’ve got the harpoon to fend it off. When I’m paralyzed by anxiety and the sheer size of a task, I remind myself that it’s just a matter of taking that first step. As entrepreneur Alex Hermozi said in a podcast interview with Ali Abdaal, once you start taking steps, the next ones will become illuminated.
So, I choose one of my anxiety-inducing tasks, set a 10-minute timer, and dive in. More often than not, that’s enough to build momentum and keep me going. Sometimes, the task even becomes enjoyable as I make progress. But on the rare occasion I’m still stuck after 10 minutes, I move on to another task and return to the first one later with a fresh mindset.
Use Case 2: Harnessing the Power of Efficient Work
We’ve all been in those high-pressure situations when our boss suddenly dumps an urgent task on us. Suddenly, our work speed reaches superhero levels. While I don’t advocate for living in a constant state of stress, there’s something to be said for tapping into that hyper-focused energy.
Enter the Pomodoro Technique and the good old Parkinson’s Law, which states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. By setting aggressive time estimates for my tasks – like 45 minutes instead of an hour – I push myself to work more efficiently, with focus and intent.
Tools of the Trade: The Pomodoro Timer
There are plenty of ways to implement the Pomodoro Technique, from asking Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant to start a timer, to using a web app, like this one. But my go-to gadget is a simple countdown timer with six sides and preset minutes on each side. It’s called a TickTime Pomodoro Timer and you can find the affiliate link below. To start the timer, just place it with the desired time facing up. Voila!
The timer has an LED display with a countdown and a circle progress bar showing time remaining. It also has a long standby, meaning it’ll keep ticking even after a few days without a charge.
Sure, it’s lightweight and plasticky, but it gets the job done. The only real downside is that if your timer isn’t set to 3 or 30 minutes, the LED display will be at a weird angle. But hey, nobody’s perfect, right?
So there you have it, my friends – my two-pronged approach to staying afloat in the productivity sea using the Pomodoro Technique. I highly recommend giving this timer a whirl and seeing the difference it can make in your own work life. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a 25-minute work session to dive into. Happy swimming, and see you on the other side!