I guess I’ve been living under a rock because I only recently learned about the Pomodoro method of working. If you’ve been under that rock with me, it’s time to come out and give it a try. The easiest tool I’ve found to help me stick to the Pomodoro Technique is Pomofocus. It’s improved my time management abilities tremendously.
What is Pomofocus?
Pomofocus is a customizable Pomodoro timer. There’s both a mobile app and desktop browser version. So far, I’ve been using the desktop tool. I’ve also been using the traditional 25 minute work time followed by a 5-minute break. A bell rings (like an old-fashioned alarm clock) at the end of each interval. The reason I prefer using the browser version is that you can see the timer while you do your work, which helps me focus a bit more than it being on my phone.
What is Pomodoro Technique?
Created by Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro Technique is a way to improve the productivity of your work or study. The technique breaks down your work into intervals including a working period with a break period. The traditional method involves 25 minutes of work time and 5-15 minutes of break time. Named for a tomato-shaped timer that Crillo used in his kitchen, the term Pomodoro is the Italian word for tomato.
Why Use Pomofucus?
The aim of the Pomofus app is to help your stay focused on a task like writing, coding, studying, etc. Really, almost anything applies. I found it especially helpful to add a quick bit of fitness into my break time. I’ll do 5 minutes on the treadmill or exercise bike, or take a walk outside for a longer break. Having breaks can really help your mental ability to really focus during work time and free your mind during breaks.
How Does Pomofocus Work?
In addition to timing activities, you can set tasks to track how many work intervals it takes to complete a project, assignment, etc. As a freelancer, I find this especially helpful for submitting timesheets to my employers. I could not believe how this simple tool works so well for me as compared to alternatives in the timing space. I’ve used interval timers for workouts, but never even considered how one could improve my work productivity.
How to use the Pomofocus Timer?
Visit pomofocus.io to use the desktop browser version or download the mobile browser version. Then follow these easy steps:
- Add your work tasks
- Estimate the Pomodoro (1 = 25min of work) for each task
- Start the timer and focus on the task for 25 minutes
- Take a break for 5 minutes when the alarm rings
- Use 3-5 Pomodoros until you finish your tasks
You can also go into the settings to change the length of your work time and break time. In addition, there are two types of breaks – long and short. I like to add a long break after 3 Pomodoro sessions. You can use the timer for free with or without a login. I use a log-in so that it saves my timing for reporting purposes.
How Pomofucus has improved my focus and productivity
I can’t say enough about how well Pomofucs is working for me. I can get easily distracted and disorganized, especially going down a rabbit hole on Facebook. This way, I won’t even look at my Facebook, email, or Instagram until it’s break time. Usually, I try to get up and moving in some way. Being sedentary is one of the leading causes of illness in America so we should all practice getting up and moving more even if we have a desk job.