Could the pomodoro technique boost your productivity?

Could taking breaks during your workday increase productivity? According to the pomodoro technique, the answer is "yes."

• The pomodoro technique is a way of alternating work with timed breaks to boost your overall productivity.
• While it's counterintuitive to believe more breaks can increase productivity, studies indicate that simple techniques like these improve the brain's ability to focus on important tasks. Pomodoro technique adopters believe that their improved focus leads to more efficiency.

• Developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, the pomodoro technique works by dividing each workday into a series of 25-minute sessions and short breaks.
• To try this productivity method, set a timer for 25 minutes and work intently on a chosen task for the entire time. Once the timer ends, you then take a five-minute timed break. After the break is done, another 25-minute work session starts.
• Every four sessions, take a break that lasts 15 to 30 minutes. The break should be long enough to feel refreshed and ready to work on the next set of tasks.

• Each 25-minute session requires that you have complete focus on your task. Unfortunately, common workplace interruptions can easily break your concentration. In most cases, these interruptions can be worked into your task list.
• For example, if your phone rings, find out if you can call that person back. Then, use your next pomodoro session to return that phone call and any other calls that you may need to make.
• Other distractions may not be negotiable. In that case, stop your work session and deal with the problem. Afterwards you can start a new 25-minute work session.

• It may seem wasteful to take a break when a deadline approaches, but the right break should refresh your mind and help you work more efficiently during your next session.
• A study published in the 2011 edition of Cognition showed that taking two short breaks over a 50-minute session improved focus. Getting a cup of coffee, checking social media or going to the bathroom are all great ways to refresh your brain.
• Just be sure to avoid breaks that extend past the allotted five minutes.

• While the pomodoro technique works for some people, others think that this technique can lead to decreased productivity. They argue that if there's not enough time to complete a full 25-minute work session, you're less likely to work during shorter amounts of time.
• Other critics believe that professionals should be able to concentrate without a timer and the promise of a break to keep them focused. They suggest that people should work on improving their concentration without using a timer or other tricks.
• Unlike other productivity techniques, the pomodoro technique is easy to try without reading a book or purchasing specialized equipment. Therefore, consider trying the pomodoro technique to see if it works for you.
• The technique's creator suggests at least a seven-day commitment, so consider earmarking your next work week for a productivity experiment.

Sources:

http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/wellness/_resources/examwellness.pdf

http://lifehacker.com/productivity-101-a-primer-to-the-pomodoro-technique-1598992730

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/the-pomodoro-technique-is-it-right-for-you.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110208131529.htm

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010027710002994