Monday, January 31, 2011
The Pomodoro Technique:
Stepcase Lifehack: "If you spend any time at all researching life hacks, you’ve probably heard of the famous Pomodoro Technique. Created in the 1980s by Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro Technique is one of the more popular time management life hacks used today. But this method isn’t for everyone, and for every person who is a passionate adherent of the system, there is another person who is critical of the results.
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10 comments:
I've heard of this method of time management before, but I never heard anyone use this name before. While I can see why some people think it is a ridiculous why to manage one's time I think it has some benefits to it. Knowing that you have designated time to break has never really worked for me one hundred percent. Either I didn't want to take a break because I was on a role or I was just doing busy work to fill the time. I do think that 25 minutes is a little too short for a work period. It might help some if the time was pushed up to say 50 minutes. Or you could just take a break whenever you feel you need it, but to each his own.
Kelli, I'd agree with your thought to set your own Pomodoro length, but I don't know that 25 minutes is so terrible. The point of the Pomodoro is to work efficiently until your mind starts to wander, which I've found to be about a half hour for myself.
This semester, I've found myself with a lot more homework than in previous semesters, but with less evenings, instead pushing everything to a long stretch of time on Sunday. The problem here is burnout - by the evening, I start falling asleep on the homework. I'm going to try implementing the Pomodoro Technique this weekend, because it seems to be just what I need - short, extremely focused work periods, regulated breaks, and a sense of accomplishment as you proceed through the day.
I know someone who recently got a fifteen minute hourglass and has bascially been trying out this technique. Says he likes it because it switches things up, but that he feels like he is training himself to be unable to concentrate on things for more that 15 minutes. Which is bad, clearly. I think this is a sort of good idea, but I agree that the time period ought to be longer. I try to do one task (complete one homework assignment, fill out one application, etc.) and then take a five to ten minute break, but I don't time the work period; I think that can be detrimental.
This sounds great for my little brother who is a great procrastinator. I don't think this really works when we're running around all day like we are in school. In reading this I realize that I do a version of it in my own life though. On weekends when I have a pile of work I want to get through before Monday I look at the work and the other things I want to do that day (Movie at 4, party at 10) and basically schedule what I'm going to do when. Suddenly my brain goes into minor anxiety mode. If I don't finish this reading before the movie I won't be able to enjoy it. So I make myself finish it. I'm not very good at procrastinating I guess. Then again these comments are due tomorrow.
The article does point out that this particular method is not right for everyone or everything. I use a form of this technique myself, but I hate to stop in the middle of something so the timer really doesn't work for me. I always feel guilty about stopping. I like to organize tasks into tasks that once completed will feel finished; then I take a break. I also plan what I will do during the break before I start each piece so I feel like I have a little reward waiting for me at the end of each task.
But like the article said to each his own.
I've tried the Pomodoro technique, and I actually really like it. It's nice because it forces you to set small and manageable, but specific goals for yourself, which is really good for getting organized. It also discourages you from taking long, unproductive breaks by giving you many shorter breaks. I find that splitting up the work makes it less daunting.
The Pomodoro technique appears to be a well thought out time management technique. It allows tasks to be divided into manageable chunks, and gives both rest and a sense of self satisfaction with the completion of each. the technique however, seems to have a number of issues inherent in it. firstly, not every task can be completed in 25 minutes, and some projects will suffer with the break, also the incentive coming so regularly may cause people to simply wait out the timer, and not give as much focus to the task at hand. There may also be a case to be made against the technique based on the information showing declines in our generations ability to focus on tasks for long periods of time.
Nic
I don't really see this technique working for me, but I do see the benefits that it may have. Some of you are saying that 25 minutes is too short, but the technique says you are supposed to go for four 25-minute periods before taking break, so if you had longer work periods, you would go longer without a break. I think the best thing about this method is the way that it provides a regular incentive in the form of fifteen to twenty minute breaks. One reason I think that this technique may not work for me, though, is because it seems annoying and somewhat impossible (due to interruptions and things that come up) to have to keep my life that structured. I believe this technique may work for certain days and certain tasks, but sometimes time management techniques such as these are just not realistic.
I can't keep out of mind how akin this method seems to be with speed dating. Like Kelli said above, taking yourself in and out of the work when your on a role seems ridiculous. If you are on a role, keep going. I wouldn't think to ever use this technique unless for some reason i was having trouble establishing break periods for myself. Most work tends to have parts where breaks feel like they should naturally come.
I also agree with Emily's comment in that your training yourself for being able to apply yourself at a task for X amount of time. Sure, you could make the argument that X is variable and your improving the quality of that period, but it's still a defined period.
Actually if you think about it, we have this system already in place if you work for a company. It's called a work day.
One thing this method does not account for is momentum. Sometimes when you are working, you get momentum built up and really start charging though the work and getting a lot accomplished. I think Brian is right, that you have to set your own time length. Having been in rehearsal so often, I know my clock works on the hour twenty. I think its like Pavlov's dog. That being said, I think after using this method for a time, then it will be hard to focus on anything for more than the time you set. Classes and meeting have been set for no longer than an hour and a half or less. I think they educators have discovered we can focus on something for about an hour and a half before we start to lose focus. That just seems to be a more manageable and useful time than the short bursts suggested in the article.
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