As a freelance copywriter, productivity and time mangement are critical. Extremely critical.
I’ve got lots of things to do in a day: write for my assignments and my own content, be active on social media, prospect potential new clients, promote myself, teach…
Saying that my days are busy and hectic are below the reality. Without proper time management, I can be easily lost among all the tasks I have to do.
That’s why I’ve been looking for many ways to boost my productivity over the past two years…until I found the Pomodoro technique.
This technique literally changed the way I worked, my time management issues and my productivity for the better. Here’s how…
What is the Pomodoro technique?
The Pomodoro technique is a time management technique developed by Francisco Cirillo. When he was still a student in the 1980s, he had a hard time to be productive. Then, he figured out that he should focus on a 10-minute work session by using a kitchen timer. After many trials and errors, he finally came up with the Pomodoro technique as we know it.
The Pomodoro technique is a perfect rotation between work sessions and breaks. Francisco Cirillo advocates a 25-minute work session, followed by a 5-minute break. After 4 pomodoros, you can take a longer break.
Fun fact: Pomodoro means tomato in Italian…just like the kitchen timer!
There is a key rule when using this method: AVOID DISTRACTIONS OF ALL SORTS. It can be quite difficult if you work from home and have children.
But as this is not my case, I decided to give it a try.
Why did I choose to boost my productivity with the Pomodoro technique?
Though I am quite productive myself, I am easily distracted. Indeed, I am the kind who will work with my favorite YouTube videos. This is a bad habit that I got from my university days, because I always did my homework that way. And bad habits are unfortunately very easy to break in.
Then, during my copywriting self-study with AWAI, I discovered this technique to boost my productivity. I can say that it was almost I discovered the Holy Grail of Productivity that day.
Once I tried the Pomodoro technique, I adopted it in the blink of an eye. And I didn’t look back ever since.
How do I use it?
I must say that I have my own version of the Pomodoro technique as a time management tool. Here it is:
- List the tasks I have to perform during the day
- Eradicate all distractions: I put my phone on silent mode and I let my iPad away
- Start at 7 or 8 am sharp, depending on when I woke up (I rise at 4 or 5 am, depending on what I had to do the day before)
- Work during 45 minutes and I focus solely on my work
- Take a break during 15 minutes
- Do 4 pomodoros until 11 am or 12 pm
- Take a longer break at that moment (maybe 2 hours)
- In the afternoon, I do two more pomodoros because I’ve performed all my work in the morning
During the breaks, I unwind with music, call my sister, or follow an enlightening podcast on YouTube. But I always respect my 15-minute break. Whenever my 15 minutes are over, I get back to work!
My results with the Pomodoro technique
Since I’ve been using the Pomodoro technique, my business has considerably changed. Here are some benefits I’ve personally experienced:
- Always complete all the tasks of the day
- Respect my clients’ deadlines more easily
- Finish my tasks early and I can focus on other things
- Waste less time on Netflix or YouTube
And what about the writing of this article? Do you think that I used the Pomodoro technique? Of course, I did!
Have you ever used the Pomodoro technique for your work? Did you stick to it? Feel free to share in the comments!
One common problem I see with a lot of people working an online business from home is that they cannot focus on work long enough. There are a thousand distractions online and you are on click away from them so being discipline is an art one has to master if he wants to become successful.
I completely agree with you!
One normal issue I see with a many individuals working a web-based business from home is that they can’t zero in on work sufficiently long. There are 1,000 interruptions on the web and you are on click away from them so being discipline is a workmanship one needs to dominate to become fruitful.
Great post, very helpful:)
thanks!
The Pomodoro technique sounds very effective to use, and I will have to try this method when writing content for my blogs. My problem is that when I get distracted and get frustrated, I cannot remember or pick back up right where I left off. We all have families that require our attention, and we can’t put our families on the back burner.
I understand…
Thank you so much for sharing about how your boosting your productivity with the Pomodoro technique.
issue I frequently observe with folks who run home-based online businesses is their inability to maintain sustained concentration.
I observe with many people including myself who work from home and we are unable to focus on their tasks for long enough.
Online distractions abound, and you are only one click away from them, thus developing discipline is a skill that must be mastered if you want to succeed.
I agree!
This is a very impressive post. I can’t wait to try the Pomodoro technique as I am the poster child for distractions – be it emails, voicemails, TV, music or internet news. Curiosity slows my productivity way down. Your Pomodora Technique came just in the nick of time.
Glad that you also applied this method to your daily routine with outstanding results. There is so many things that distract our attention that could easily be avoided. My distraction is caused mostly by my need to know what is going on in real time and being nosy about topics that are trending (lol).
Rachele
Hello Rachele, I was in your case but thankfully I changed my ways. I wish you luck trying this method!
most people want an online business but I dare say this type of business may not be for everyone. If you are easily distracted, have small children, lack structure/routine, or have a hard time with organization these can really be some strong hurdling blocks for some people.
Structure and planning out your goals and agenda daily is mandatory. It is great to have systems and techniques like Pomodoro. (The first thing I thought about was a tomato).
It is important to remain focused on your tasks and take short breaks. The 25minute-5minute ratio sounds interesting.
thanks for your comment!
Thank you for this information. I am always looking for ways to improve my productivity. I am going to try this method. I am thinking of moving into a spare room I have to cut down on distractions because I have many. Then I will have to deal with my main distraction…me. you were right about a bad habits, they can be very difficult to break and I have quite a few. But I believe your article will be very helpful as I try to improve the way I get things done. Hopefully, I will be putting out lots more content in the near future. Thanks a bunch.Linda
You’re welcome Linda!
Hi, Elodie, thank you very much for introducing me to the Pomodoro technique!! I have always looked for a way to boost my productivity. I will also try it and see how it will pay dividends, in terms of productivity. That said, I see that one can vary the technique as it suits him/her. That is, work time can be varied. However, once fixed, then one must remove all distractions and focus on the task set and only break off when the work time has ended. Even the resting time is set and must also be observed. This is very important and it instills work ethics. Thank you very much for this post.
You’re welcome!
I have NEVER heard of the pomodoro technique. I have heard of ways similar, but never this specifically. I think that it’s a great technique. It sounds like something that could work for many people. It’s creates an opportunity for people to expand their ability and give them a time limit to build their focus and achieve their goals. I HATE lists, they seem daunting, but I know I am more successful with them. I like goals and creating a goal for 25/45 minutes to give me a 5-15 min breatk, I could totally crush XX items off my list. I hate leaving things UN-finished! Great idea and a great post! Love the accountability!
Thanks for the comment!
This is fantastic! I really struggle with procrastination and I’ve been looking for a way to focus myself on the task in hand. It often takes me several hours and sometimes even days to complete tasks.
I will certainly start using this technique from now on!!
What other techniques do you know?
Is there a better way to be more productive or is this the best one you have come across so far?
Is there anything else I can do to stop procrastinating?
All advice is welcome!
Tony
I do some other techniques like making a to-do list, or classifying tasks according to their importance. But the Pomodoro technique has been the best for me so far.
The Pomodoro Technique sounds like a real winner. I am also easily distracted and have to keep myself from constantly going down “rabbit holes”.
So I have made a firm decision to give the Pomodoro a two week trial while working on my present Wealthy Affiliate project. I have watched some YouTube videos using the technique that were very successful and motivational.
Thanks for sharing! And good luck !
Excellent article; thank you for sharing “How I Boosted My Productivity with the Pomodoro Technique”. I discovered this technique a few years ago and it was a game-changer. Nowadays, we have many distractions, and phones are my main ones. Always notifications and just random social media checks, but once I started using this technique, my productivity increased by 100%. Thank you for this great post. Have a great day. Regards. Vlad
Thanks Vlad
This sounds like something I should try. I have never heard of the Pomodoro method. Knowing that you will get a break helps sustains the motivation to get you through the task at hand. I haven’t been doing that. I just sit down and get to work without a plan. That leads me to time-wasting distractions! Thank you for sharing this well-tested method.
You’re welcome Beth!
Very interesting read.
I’ve never heard of the pomodoro technique until reading this, but I’ve actually been using it most of my adult life without knowing what it was called.
I tend to get bored easily, and I’ll start daydreaming or losing my focus on my task, so when I was in college, I started using this technique in order to meet my deadlines and get better grades, and it helped me tremendously!
Thanks for sharing!
The Pomodoro technique as a time management technique seems to be an excellent way to stay productive. It basically segments time periods each day where focus is required. In this way you can avoid distractions that would greatly reduce your productivity. If you are running a business from your home, it is important to be able to focus and to be productive without distractions. Being able to complete your daily tasks and to prioritize them is crucial for achieving your objectives. Once your work is complete then you will have more time to relax and enjoy your life. Thank you for writing about this technique.
You’re welcome
This article is highly resourceful. I have always sought ways to improve my productivity, and this looks like the answer to my questions. To get more productive, I have created a separate space in my room to work, but I still get distracted. But will employ the work for 25minutes without distraction and take a snap rest of 5 minutes. That way, I believe there will be a significant increase in my concentration and productivity
Good for you and good luck!