The Pomodoro technique is a well-known productivity hack for getting more things done. It is named after a tomato-shaped timer the inventor Francesco Cirillo used when he first stumbled upon it. Basically, it gives users a time limit of 25 minutes to focus on one task, before taking a 5 minute rest.
But how useful is it?
I spent 1 month trying it out in lots of areas of my life and I am going to give you the results here.
If you want to read my article on the details of using the Pomodoro technique and how you can apply it to your life with lots of examples, check it out here: How to crush your goals: use a tomato.
Pomodoro Diary
Day 1:
I woke up with lots of energy and ready to start my day. I used the Pomodoro technique to get myself to do a bit of cleaning – the bathroom and the kitchen. I’d finished the bathroom in 16 minutes so I pushed on and started on the kitchen. The timer went after the full 25 minutes were up and I had a short rest. Then, the second pomodoro started: 12 minutes later I felt the kitchen was cleaner! Not perfect but good enough.
So the technique worked here because I really wasn’t in the mood for cleaning: I would have far rather gone and sat outside and cracked on with some research.
Day 4:
Today, the lawn needed mowing. Now I haven’t exactly got ‘grounds’ and certainly no gardeners to help me out. But even so, it’s a bit of a faff getting the mower out of the shed ‘fondly named the ‘West Wing’, and setting everything up. 25 minutes later and I’ve strimmed and mown 3 quarters of the back lawn. 5 minute rest. Second pomodoro: I’ve done the back lawn and front lawn. Pack the things away, just as the timer pings.
Day 5:
I try the technique on exercise. This will be the acid test as I’m pretty busy and often fitness, to my shame, is a little bit further down the list than I would really like. But I went for a walk/run. 25 mins. Beautiful day and really enjoyed it.
Day 9:
Research day! I usually do research for this blog, but I love it so much, I didn’t really need the Pomodoro timer here. Got on with it straight away. Worked through the 5 minute rest, was still going 3 hours later. Admittedly, I was getting a little fatigued but no need for the Pomodoro technique here. The hack went straight out of the window.
Day 10:
Work’s project needed completing. I generally like this sort of stuff but I applied the Pomodoro timer to this as well. 25 minutes flew by. I took the required 5 minute rest to rehydrate and carried on – Pomodoro number 2. By the end of circuit number 3, I was loosing the will to live. Rested for 5 minutes. Then as number 4 started, I told myself I had done an hour and a half and was frankly getting a bit bored. I’d made a sizeable dent in the task, so decided to abandon this for a while. It turns out (as if I didn’t know already) that I need variety to keep myself on task.
Day 11:
Tried the Pomodoro technique with a hobby. Absolutely no need for the 25 minutes as I found myself completely forgetting to reset the timer and about 3 hours later, I stopped for some dinner as I couldn’t hear my thoughts through the incessant growling of my stomach.
Day 14:
I’m starting to learn that for me, the Pomodoro technique is only useful for tasks I don’t really enjoy and I need to mix the tasks up a little ( not do the same one for more than 2 Pomodoros) So I tried it with cooking and cleaning. It worked better switching tasks and cooking was the perfect first activity as there was about a 25 minute wait for the sauce to simmer (on a gentle heat).
Day 17:
I need to declutter today. Started on 25 minutes and got to the end. In true Marie Condo style, everything was in the center of the room in one big pile. The pomodoro effect ended and I could feel myself losing heart. That timer going off left me unsettled as the room just looked worse than it did half an hour ago and knew this next pomodoro would be a toughie. Took way more than 5 minutes rest. Couldn’t pluck up the enthusiasm to carry on so basically put it all back where it came from and decided to write this one off to experience.
Day 18:
More research today. Did 3 Pomodoros before I stopped. Also worked through 1 of the rest periods.
Day 20:
Repotted a few plants today. Planted a couple of others in the garden. As an ex-garden designer I have always enjoyed being in the garden but as the most unpractical man in the world, I’m not a great one for getting things done. I love the idea of it and planning everything out. But actually getting the job done? Not so much. Had 5 minutes to spare on my first pomodoro. It did spur me on to get it done before the 25 minutes ( I am learning that I like to challenge myself to get something done faster or more efficiently)
Day 26:
Back to the work project that needed to be finished. Pomodoro 1: All fine. Pomodoro 2? Not so much. Got interrupted by a phone call and never went back to it.
Day 27:
Brought out the Pomodoro for a mammoth car cleaning sesh. Didn’t work very well. Got the outside washed and started hoovering the inside. Then the timer went off and I couldn’t leave the hoover out the front of the house as someone might think I’d left for the scrap men, so carried on. Not much point in sitting there for 5 minutes doing nothing! Got the whole thing done, no rests, no second timer as it was too much faff to go and restart it.
Day 29:
Had the realisation that TV programmes often work on the Pomodoro technique – about 20-25 minutes between each advert or a shorter 27 minute programme. Perhaps media companies all have red tomato timers on set as they are filming it too!
The results:
What did I learn from my month of trying the Pomodoro technique?
- I don’t need to employ this technique for things I am excited about. It works best for me if I am dreading the task.
- The timer is only a guide and often I won’t stick to it – through laziness or I just want the task finished.
- The Pomodoro technique gets me started on a nasty topic and that seems to be the most important aspect of it. I suppose the 25 minutes is just to keep you going, rather than give up 5 minutes later in a crumpled heap of exasperation and shame. I wonder if another technique to get started would work just as well?
- It worked best when I shifted between 2 tasks over the full 4 or 5 Pomodoros. I get bored easily, I admit it and having to do the same task put me off starting the next session.
- I did feel I got more done, against my will about 50% of the time. The rest I either gave up, ignored the timer completely or forgot to reset it.
So, will I be using the Pomodoro technique in my life to increase my productivity?
In certain situations, I will. It’s main benefit was getting me to start the task and challenging myself to get it done within 25 minutes time slot. Basically, if I am dreading a task, it helps me get started. But after that, things seem to go down hill and I don’t really stick to the timer that often.
I seem to benefit from using it for cleaning mostly. I felt that 25 minutes was a short enough time to get a job done, but not too long that I was put off.
It seems that I could use the 5 minute rule to get started and the task batching/time blocking technique when I am in the flow state more easily than the Pomodoro technique.
If you would like more information on how others have used the Pomodoro technique, check out Arib Malik’s TedX Youth talk: Finding passion with the Pomodoro technique.
Have you tried the Pomodoro technique? Let me know in the comments what you found it useful for and whether you have adapted it to suit your life.