Pomodoro Technique: The Single Best App for Staying Focused

What is the Pomodoro technique?

It's a time management device developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980's. The technique users a timer to breakdown work, normally into twenty-five minute chunks, separated by short breaks.

The six steps of pomodoro

1. Choose a task to finish.
2. Set the pomodoro timer (25 minutes to start)
3. Work on the task until the timer rings. If a distraction pops into your head, write it down (it doesn't matter where), but immediately get back on task.
4. After the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper or in the app.
5. If you have less than four checkmarks, take a short break (about 5 minutes), then go back to step 1
6. If you've got more than four marks, take a longer break (20-30) minutes, then either start back over or end for the time being.

Pivotal Stages

The stages of goal-setting, tracking, recording, revising, and visualizing are the foundation of the technique.

In the planning phase each task set out for the day is recorded and prioritized based on what you personally believe should be done. This allows you to estimate the time needed to complete each task. After each time interval, or pomodoro, you can record your progress. As well as recording any finished tasks. This gives you a space to process and reflect on your work.

Tools/Apps:

Francesco was keen on keeping things low-tech. He felt like the actual turning of a timer meant a commitment by the user to see things through. I've only ever used the chrome extension, [Pomodoro Timer](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pomodoro-timer/hfgjlgjnpkpmnpojkkpfkogapiclopop?hl=en). But writing in the task and starting feel pretty similar to winding up a timer. At least I imagine. So, either work. Low-tech or high, it's the process that counts.

^{A condensed version of the app}

When do I use it?

Every article I've written on steem, and often at work to stay focused. Chunking my schedule and taking breaks has worked wonders in building up positive habits. It's helped me get a way better estimate of how long it's going to take me to complete a task. And, I've pretty much eliminated procrastination because of the bit of gamification I get to add to my day.