Have you heard of the word Pomodoro? Pomodoro means tomato in Italian, and you are probably wondering what tomatoes in Italy have to do with growing your business. Believe me, they have everything to do with your business because your one best asset is time and lack of time is one of the main problems that a lot of the business owners I talk to really struggle with.
Time is unlike money in that you can’t grow it, stretch it, or make more. Once it’s spent you can’t get it back. As my mentor once said, the millionaire and the beggar have the same number of hours in a day. It’s how we choose to use the hours we have that makes the difference to how successful we become in our lives.
If you want to be successful in business it’s very important that you learn different strategies to help you get the most out of your day. One method I’ve found extremely helpful is the Pomodoro technique.
What is the Pomodoro technique?
The Pomodoro technique was originally created by Francesco Cirillo and is used by thousands of people all over the world to increase their productivity and work more effectively. It got its name from the tomato shaped timer that inspired it (you may already have one in your kitchen).
The idea behind this technique is to work in short bursts on tasks throughout the day, and take small breaks at regular intervals. These intervals should consist of 25 minutes on, with 5 minutes off. Every 4 or 5 pomodoros you take an extended break.
During your working time you limit distractions, close down your email, put your phone on silent and focus exclusively on the task at hand. This technique can be used for just about anything that requires focus from strategising and planning, preparing documentation and reading reports to writing blog posts. In fact I’m using the Pomodoro technique right now to write this article.
During your five-minute breaks make sure you step away from your computer to get some distance between you and whatever it is you’re doing. You can do a few exercises, go for a walk or stretch to help get the blood flowing. It’s essential that during these five minutes you don’t do anything that taxes your brain or involves a lot of focus.
Although the idea may seem counterproductive, especially if you’re busy, taking regular breaks will actually help you get more done in a day. The five-minute breaks that are built in to the Pomodoro technique refresh your mind so you can focus for another 25 minute burst.
The Pomodoro technique is so powerful because, as I’m sure you know, if you have to concentrate on something for a long period of time, after a while your brain starts to wander and you lose focus, then a task which should have taken 20 minutes ends up taking three hours.
Interval training for business owners
To combat this, the Pomodoro technique uses a similar method to the interval training techniques that athletes use. When you do interval training you train intensively in short bursts for a short period of time, take a break and then do another burst.
For an athlete this means you can train a lot harder and work on faster recovery times, for a business owner, applying the same principles means you can improve your productivity and stay focused on the task at hand so you get more out of each working day.
The Pomodoro technique is very simple but it can be amazingly effective. By working in 25 minute bursts with regular five-minute breaks you can stay focused and work faster and more effectively.
Overall, the Pomodoro technique has been extremely helpful for me and many of my clients use this technique and love it because it helps them get more done in less time which gives them more time to spend doing what they want.
This technique is one of many time management and productivity techniques we can teach you about at Business Blueprint. Give our team a call at 1300 782 734 to find out more about how we can help you grow your business and take it to the next level.
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