I've been experimenting with writing strategies lately and came across this method called "The Pomodoro Method." The Pomodoro Method was created by Francisco Cirillo, a developer and entrepreneur, who developed the method in the 90s (and named the method after a Tomato-shaped timer). The method is simple: You work for short bursts of time and then you take an even shorter break. Then repeat.
Here's the generic Pomodoro Method cycle.
1) Set your timer for 25 minutes
2) Work for 25 minutes without interruption or distraction (turn off email, phone, etc)
3) take a 5 minute break (where you do something else)
4) repeat
*every 3rd or 4th cycle should be followed with a longer, 15-20 minute break
The Pomodoro Method is a method of sprinting through tasks. It's very similar to interval based training in swimming. The general idea is that you cannot sustain optimal levels of effort and energy indefinitely. I don't know if you're like me, but sometimes during long writing sessions, I fatigue and my focus wanders; I start checking email or I scroll through social media. In the short time I've been using this, I've found that I end up writing more in 3 Pomodoro cycles (1 hour, 15 minutes of writing) than I do in 2 unfocused hours of continuous "work." The Pomodoro Method recognizes that people tend to work better in short bursts and creates a method to maximize time and productivity.
I've been aiming for 2-3 cycles of this while on vacation, but will experiment and try to aim for 4-5 cycles when I get back home to Toronto. Hope this helps jumpstart your writing and productivity! Please share stories using this method and spread the good vibes. Take care of yourselves and keep fighting the good fight! Oss!
Here's the generic Pomodoro Method cycle.
1) Set your timer for 25 minutes
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| Conquer your writing woes and feel like my good buddy, Anthony Ervin! |
3) take a 5 minute break (where you do something else)
4) repeat
*every 3rd or 4th cycle should be followed with a longer, 15-20 minute break
The Pomodoro Method is a method of sprinting through tasks. It's very similar to interval based training in swimming. The general idea is that you cannot sustain optimal levels of effort and energy indefinitely. I don't know if you're like me, but sometimes during long writing sessions, I fatigue and my focus wanders; I start checking email or I scroll through social media. In the short time I've been using this, I've found that I end up writing more in 3 Pomodoro cycles (1 hour, 15 minutes of writing) than I do in 2 unfocused hours of continuous "work." The Pomodoro Method recognizes that people tend to work better in short bursts and creates a method to maximize time and productivity.
I've been aiming for 2-3 cycles of this while on vacation, but will experiment and try to aim for 4-5 cycles when I get back home to Toronto. Hope this helps jumpstart your writing and productivity! Please share stories using this method and spread the good vibes. Take care of yourselves and keep fighting the good fight! Oss!
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