Barcamp Ghent – 19/12/2009 – By @tijs

Pomodoro in real life

@tijs on Twitter

Blog at (bits.)tijsvrolix.be

Work for NOCUS, Pixelpanic, MetaTale and this new thing called Super Mega Hyper.

I am Tijs Vrolix

Pomodoro isanother answer to the multitasking problem.

Check my singletasking presentations on Slideshare or try Kukoo.com if you haven’t done so already for additional time management tips.

Founded byFrancesco Cirillo (1992)

Find a way to get rid of distractions and interruptions caused by low levels of concentration and motivation.

Dare yourselfCan you? Would you be able to?

Pomodoro is all about self observation.

can you handle the truth?

Remember: time is your ally, not your ennemy

25 5

Work for 25 minutes. Take a 5 minute break.

25 5

Long enough to do things. Short enough to resist being distracted.

After 4 pomodoros, take a longer break.

Pomodoro has to ring. It can never be interrupted.

Five stepsPlanning (in the morning)

Tracking (the pomodoro’s)

Recording, processing and visualizing (at the

end of the day)

this is where the self observation part really happens

It takes 7 to 20 days to master the technique.

Johan Stam on Flickr

Interruptionsare (extremely) evil.

Interruption is productivity’s biggest enemy, wrote Jason Fried. It certainly also is Pomodoro’s.

InternalSocial networks, food/drinks, ...

Often related to a lack of concentration. Record your interruption and add whatever you feel is urgent to your to do inbox.

ExternalPhone calls, colleagues, questions, ...

Protect the pomodoro: inform, negociate and reschedule (true emergencies really are rare).

The headphones rule: wear your headphones during the pomodoro, take them off during the break.

Tiny tasksYou cannot break the pomodoro.

Combine tasks when they’re really small ones. Otherwise take time to review and repeat when you’ve got a only a few minutes left.

Breaks make the pomodoro more effective.

Breaksare an essential part of the pomodoro.

Although in many (corporate) environments there’s a sort of aversion to breaks.

Make them longer when you feel that’s beneficial for your concentration/motivation (don’t fool yourself though).

ToolsPick your favorite.

Get yourself a mechanic timer or download one of the many desktop/mobile apps.

Find out moreat pomodorotechnique.com

Download the free ebook or buy the Pomodoro Kit.

Barcamp Ghent – 19/12/2009 – By @tijs

Pomodoro in real life