Due to COVID-19 and pandemic, a lot of people are starting to work from home, especially in the IT area. But you might also figure out it is hard to focus on one thing depending on what kind of rule at home. You may need to take care of your child(s) if you are a father or mother. You may need to share some matters if you are a husband or wife. Even you are the only person at home, there were still a lot of things that could attract your attention. If you are the person likes the mention above, you must consider a concept called “Pomodoro Technique”, as known as “Tomato Clock”
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It uses a timer to break work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. Each interval is known as a pomodoro, from the Italian word for tomato, after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Cirillo used as a university student.[1]
Simply, the longest period humans can focus on is 25 mins. Then you must take a rest for 5 mins after the focus time. It is very easy, right? You can set a timer to count down 25 mins on your phone, and take a rest for a stretch or a coffee. But if you are focusing on an item and it is longer than 25 mins. Why not?
But if I want to know how the day works? For sure, there are a lot of apps and websites created based on “Tomato Clock”. For me, I choose one app which is available on Mac OS and iPhone, named “Session”[2].
Session
It is a paid app, but you can use basic features for free. It provides couples features:
- Focus records
- Rest notification after focus time
- Categorize your focus items
- Ask you how
If you pay for the app, you can get more useful features:
- Block websites and apps when you are in focus
- Play white noise in focus time
- Sync data between your devices
- More categories count
- Integrate your personal calendars
I already used it for a while and feel great. In fact, I don’t always use it every day if I can keep focusing on my work items. But it helps me a lot when I need to focus on something for a while. And it will always ask how your focus time is. Focused, Neutral or Distracted? Also, your default target goal is trying to focus 8 times a day (you can change the goal for yourself). If you need someone or tools to encourage and push you, you can consider this app or others also have “Pomodoro Technique” concept! :)
