Like most of you, I’ve got a lot going on in my life. I’m a wife, mom, homeschooler, business owner, friend, teacher, etc. You get the idea.
I’m busy.
Last week I promised you I’d share a technique to help you get more done. I’m here to deliver!
This is it.
Yep. A kitchen timer.
I thought it would be something more elaborate too.
I read about this technique in a couple of different books, which was then mentioned in the Genius in 21 Days class. I decided that the “universe” was trying to knock some sense into me, so I better start listening.
One of the things I really like about this technique is that it is all about helping you focus.
It is called the “Pomodoro Technique.”
Pomodoro is tomato in Italian. The guy who invented this technique had one of these tomato kitchen timers.
The core of this technique is to set the kitchen timer and focus on one thing until the timer goes off. Then take a break. Francesco Cirillo, the original guy with the tomato timer, started with just 10 minutes. He was a student and was having a hard time focusing on his studies. After that worked, he eventually came up with a system.
Study and then take a break.
He suggests studying for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. Then you put the timer on and do it again. After four “Pomodoros,” you take a longer break.
In other books I’ve read, they have suggested other times like 45 or 50 minutes. One author suggested finding out the best time for yourself by testing it out and adding (or subtracting) a minute or two each time.
I discounted this technique at first.
I’m telling people all the time that you don’t want to kick your kids (or yourself) out of the flow state. I think that the bell system in schools is programming our kids to NEVER get into flow (the ULTIMATE learning state.) But I’ve now heard from a couple of sources how to change it up a little to help with this.
Add in review time. Each time you step away, take a minute or two to review what you were doing.
The key to all of this is that you get more done in shorter focused time frames.
I’m a work in progress on this one. I got myself the timer more as a visual reminder than to actually use it. It is REALLY loud and distracting to use. I use the phone to actually do the timing. What I have found is that when I implement this, I stay focused longer and get more done. I just have to remember to use it.
If you are like me and tend to get distracted a lot, a part of this technique covers that. Write your distractions down when they come to you, but don’t do anything about them until your break. For me, these distractions tend to be other things I need to do, like calling people or ideas for other projects. During your break, take care of any of your little distractions and bigger ones you can complete in another Pomodoro.
But what if your “distraction” is your newborn or three-year-old?
They might be your “kitchen timer.” When my kids were little, nap time was when I could get stuff done. I would put them down and focus on a project because I knew it would only be a short time, and then I’d need to give all my focus to them.
This can be a powerful tool for helping kids focus.
One thing people tell me all the time is that their kids have trouble focusing on their schoolwork. Get them a kitchen timer and start them off at ten minutes. Have them gradually work up from there.
The really powerful thing about this technique is that with the built-in downtime within each cycle, you can continue longer.
AND the quality of your focus is better!
If you get up, stretch, walk away from the computer, book, etc. for just a few minutes, when you come back, you will be able to retain and process the information you are working with better and faster!
By taking time, you are actually getting more time.
Mind-blowing, right?
If you’d like more information about Genius in 21 Days, let me know. I can get you into a free class introducing you to what they do. It is an AMAZING class with tons of content. Email me at info@realizinggenius.com, and I’ll send you a link to sign up for it.