summary ofThe Pomodoro TechniqueBook by Francesco Cirillo

first KEY POINT

Cirillo’s attempts to overcome distractions

Picture the scene — a small village just north of Rome in 1987. A young man is struggling to finish reading a sociology book for his university exams. The heavy clouds outside aren’t helping his mood. He has three of these books to finish in a short space of time and the worry is starting to get to him. He reaches for a simple kitchen timer in an attempt to focus his mind.The Pomodoro Technique is born.After the first short burst of time, which he went on to call a Pomodoro, Cirillo found himself wanting to start another almost immediately. His confidence grew, he knew he could finish the task in front of him. The remaining pages of the book were becoming fewer and fewer.

Cirillo came to realize that the distractions he was facing were completely in his own mind. His stress was focused on the need to complete the series of books and his mind was working against him, trying to throw him off course with procrastination at every turn. This is surely a situation you’ve faced countless times yourself.Learning to focus isn’t easy, with internal and external interruptions constantly around us. Perhaps you notice your stomach growling and decide to order some food, or maybe you hear your phone pinging, informing you of a new email. Learning how to handle these distractions and interruptions is key to learning how to manage your time more effectively. The Pomodoro Technique allows you to focus but deal with anything that comes your way.

Cirilo suggests scribbling down any intrusive thoughts that enter your mind, such as the desire to check your social media channels, and dealing with them whilst you’re on your break. By doing this, you’re not ignoring them and forcing them to make themselves known, and you’re making progress at the same time.