Waystation Whistle
  • Home
  • whistle-stop blog
  • Mission

You say tomahto, I say ... pomodoro?

1/26/2020

1 Comment

 
Collage tomato with Pomodoro lettering
Clear the clutter, clear your mind.
So, I’ve got papers that need filing, drawers that need organizing, cabinets that are a jumble, and closets that ... well, you know.

January is Get Organized Month, and the biggest challenge I find getting and staying organized is setting aside the time. I tell myself I’m going to do it, and then I don’t. It’s frustrating and I'm disappointed with myself when I don’t do the things I tell myself I'll do.

But I’ve found a system that helps. A lot.

It’s the Pomodoro Method developed by Franceso Cirillo. It’s based on using blocks of time to get things done. Cirillo developed the method using a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato; pomodoro is the Italian word for tomato.

With the Pomodoro Method, you set the timer (usually for 25 minutes), take short break (just a few minutes), and set it again.

What I’ve found is that I’m still able to tackle big projects by grouping my work in multiple 25 minute blocks, using the short breaks in between to get smaller tasks done: file a few papers or organize just one drawer. It also keeps me moving and I'm not sitting for long stretches of time as I sometimes do.

I put the timer far enough away from my desk so I have to get up to shut it off.

At first I thought it would be too disruptive to stop every 25 minutes. In fact, I find the opposite to be true. Stepping away from my desk every 25 minutes helps me reorganize my thoughts, and with the short break I make progress in areas I wouldn’t have even considered while I was working on the project at hand.

I had a chicken timer for a while (couldn't find a tomato), but that busted, so now I use the timer on my phone.

Where did I learn about all this? At the library. The book, The Pomodoro Technique, was on display at the library. So I borrowed it. If you're not sure it will work for you, check and see if your library has a copy.

It's great for working, studying, and setting aside time for what's really important, time for your hobbies, passions, and pastimes.

What do you think. Is it tomato, tomahto, or something in between?

1 Comment
Lisa Parker
1/27/2020 09:39:22 am

It's a great story and a great technique. Glad to be reminded of it and am using it today because of your post. Bring on the bookkeeping!

Reply



Leave a Reply.


    Picture
    Like to write? Get your writing prompt now.

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020

    Categories

    All
    1 Hour Or Less
    Animals
    Baking
    Beginning
    Birds
    Books
    Bored
    Cabin Fever
    Carpentry
    Collage
    Collecting
    Cooking
    Craft
    Cursive Writing
    Dance
    Drawing
    Flowers
    Food
    Forest Bathing
    Gardening
    Give It A Go
    Half Day
    Hand Lettering
    History
    Hobbies
    Holidays
    I Write Letters To Say
    Journaling
    Letter Writing
    Library
    Maps
    Music
    Nature
    Organizing
    Pastime
    Persistence
    Photography
    Playbook
    Poetry
    Posters
    Progress
    Puzzles
    Reading
    Recipe
    Seasons
    Secret Messages
    Sewing
    Sharing
    Shorthand
    Skill
    Snail Mail
    States
    Statues
    Traditions
    Typewriters
    Valentines
    Walking
    Watercolor
    Winter
    Workshops
    Writing

©2020 / WayStation Whistle LLC
PO Box No. 5290
Portland, ME 04101
Got a question?  Drop us a line.

Blog
Home
Returns
Mission
Privacy
Terms of Service
  • Home
  • whistle-stop blog
  • Mission