The Pomodoro Technique: Make Work More ENJOYABLE - Matthew Kelly, by Matthew Kelly on YouTube. 1 min 7 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 7 s
- Time to do it
- 25 minutes to try it
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Write down the tasks you need to do today. Pick the one that matters most and put it at the top of the list.
Set a timer for 25 minutes. A phone app, a kitchen timer or a watch all work.
Work on that one task until the timer rings. Do not open email, check messages or switch to anything else.
When the timer rings, stop even if you are mid-sentence. Stand up, stretch or get a glass of water for five minutes.
Start the next 25 minute block on the same task, or move to the next item on your list if it is finished.
After four blocks, take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. Walk away from your desk if you can.
Mark each finished block on paper and keep going through the day. Count the blocks at the end to see where your time went.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep a scrap of paper beside you and jot down every distracting thought instead of acting on it.
Tell colleagues you are unavailable for 25 minutes so interruptions do not break the block.
If 25 minutes feels too long at first, start with 15 and build up.
Treat a broken block as a restart, not a failure, and begin a fresh one.
Questions
How long is one pomodoro?
One pomodoro is 25 minutes of focused work followed by a five minute break. After four pomodoros you take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.
What if someone interrupts me during a pomodoro?
Note the interruption and deal with it in your next break if it can wait. If it truly cannot, stop the timer and start a new 25 minute block afterwards.
How many pomodoros should I do in a day?
There is no fixed number. Most people manage around eight to twelve focused blocks in a working day once meetings and breaks are counted.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
