Like most writers, I’m constantly busy. If you’re serious about writing, there’s a never-ending to-do list: blog, read, review, draft, edit, absorb, learn, redraft.
But there are times when ‘busy’ turns into ‘overwhelming.’ When I’m trying to complete a big freelance project and write a first draft at the same time, for example. The level of overwhelming can be measured by the piles of neglected paperwork on my desk, the Laundry Mountain, and the empty refrigerator.
When I get to the point where panic begins to set in, I start thinking of tomatoes. Or, more precisely, Pomodoros.
The Pomodoro Technique was invented in the 1980s by an Italian called Francesco Cirillo, who was obviously faced with that familiar situation where you’ve got so much to do that you don’t even want to get started.
He decided to use a timer. I’m guessing that he didn’t have a groovy 1980s digital watch, and not many devices had a built-in digital timer in the 80s. Even microwaves and PCs were in their infancy; mobile phones were gigantic chunky things that could only be used as a phone (the horrors!) So Signor Cirillo reached for his tomato-shaped kitchen timer, and a Technique was born.
So how do tomatoes help me to be more productive? The beauty of this technique lies in its simplicity, because all you need is any kind of timer, a pencil and a piece of paper:
Choose a task. Write it down.
Set your timer.
Work until the timer stops.
Take a short break.
Repeat.
How long is a Pomodoro? The classic length is 25 minutes, with a five-minute break. But you can make your Pomodoros as long or as short as you like, depending on your ability to concentrate and the number of children and pets in your household (or your exposure to pesky co-workers…) Your break can be longer if you wish; I take ‘breaks’ to do household tasks, since I work at home.
Did you know the electrical activity in your legs SHUTS OFF ENTIRELY when you’re sitting at a 90-degree angle? And that you burn almost no calories when sitting? If that thought doesn’t get you out of your seat every 25 minutes, nothing will.
You can really go to town on the Pomodoro Technique: buy t-shirts, become a trainer, or apply for citizenship to Pomodoro World (no, I’m not kidding). You can jet off for an advanced Pomodoro course; the next one’s in Berlin in May 2012. If you get your boss to agree to that one, don’t forget to thank me. A large bunch of flowers would be most appropriate.
The busier I get, the more I use time management techniques. I have other favorites, like swallowing the frog or the time management matrix. Those are both great ways to help me prioritize tasks, and as a busy writer you’d be wise to spend some time learning about these tried and trusted methods BEFORE you get overwhelmed.
But the Pomodoro Technique requires almost no planning, and that’s the beauty of it. Sure, if you’re a nerd like me you’ll be downloading one of the many Pomodoro apps onto your computer or smartphone by the end of this page. But here’s my advice: do it during your break. If you think this method is worth a try, TRY IT NOW. Write down a task, set a timer…ready, set, go!
