Do you ever struggle to devote your full, undivided, attention to a task that’s important to you?
I’d be willing to bet that you do, in part because so much of our modern world is built to distract you. For example, commercials, advertisements, and electronic notifications are all designed to pry your precious attention away from whatever it is you had set your mind to, and direct it toward the interests of another person or organization.
Francesco Cirillo’s Pomodoro Technique® can help you reclaim your attention in short bursts by focusing your efforts according to a simple schedule.
Here’s how it works:
1) set a simple kitchen timer for 25 minutes (bonus points for using a tomato-shaped timer… from which the technique gets it’s name), and focus on your task fully
2) when the timer rings, give yourself a 5 minute break
3) reset the timer for 25 minutes and refocus fully on your task
4) after four of these ‘pomodoros’, give yourself a longer break
Importantly, there’s nothing special about a tomato-shaped timer, or a 25-minute block of time to concentrate. What is important is that the act of setting the timer commits you to your goals, and sets a finish line. And one of the primary functions of a finish line, of course, is to simply get us over the start line.
How else do you protect your attention from distraction? Get in touch - I’d like to hear what works for you.