Vitamin Daily

Even on the tightest deadline I can find myself wandering over to Twitter, taking the Downton Abbey quiz or streaming the latest episode of The Vampire Diaries. If you too can find seemingly endless ways to procrastinate, check out this simple solution.

The Pomodoro Technique is a five-step time management process created by Francesco Cirillo. It is based, in part, on the idea that taking breaks while you work is a good thing. The steps are as follows:

1. Choose a task to be accomplished
2. Set your timer to 25 minutes (One “Pomodoro”)
3. Work on the task until the timer rings (no checking Facebook, no texting – just 25 minutes of focus)
4. Take a short break of about three to five minutes
5. Every four Pomodoros take a longer break (15-30 minutes)

It might seem basic, but what’s bizarre is how much you can accomplish in those first 25 minutes of uninterrupted work. Sure I might check the timer once or twice, but after investing a full Pomodoro or two on writing a proposal or section of a report, I often find I’m over the hardest part—the start.

—Julie Whelan

Download a Pomodoro Technique cheat sheet here www.thepomodorotechnique.com