Do you ever have a feeling that you’ll never get things done?
Wouldn’t be great if there was a way to get things done quickly and swiftly while taking a quick break every once in awhile? As it turns out there is an easy to use time management technique that will enable you to do just that.
It was invented by entrepreneur, and author Francesco Cirillo thirty years ago and if you haven’t’ tried it already it’s about time to start. I started using it lately and had some amazing results. So let me share my learning with you.
Ready? Here’s how the Pomodoro technique works
A certain task gets divided into 25 minutes intervals of pure, distraction-free work called pomodoros. These highly intensive pomodoros are followed by a short 5 minute breaks that will help you relax, unwind and forget about digital pharma marketing for a while.
Before you start each task, make sure to set your pomodoro timer to 25 minutes. Do not make the same mistake I did by setting the timer to 15 minutes!
As soon as the timer rings, and not a minute after, put down your pencil and take a short 5-minute pause. After every 4 pomodoro sequences set your timer to a longer 15 or 30-minute breaks. This will help you rest and fully recharge your batteries.
Trust me, follow this exact same process! To ensure you’re doing it right keep the rhythm flowing till the end of your day. The technique is quite simple but hugely productive and it will surely make your life a lot easier.
There’s four reasons why pomodoro time management technique will save every digital pharma marketer a lot of time, and they make more sense then you may think at first glance.
You will work faster
While using the pomodoro method you will notice that working has become a sort of a competition between you and the timer. Once face to face with a ticking pomodoro timer, the pressure you feel will force you to work faster and faster. You’ll want to finish your task just before the time runs out. After all we are competitive beings and failing to complete your project will be considered a defeat. The pressure may be annoying but its quite motivating. It will help you focus and boost your productivity.
Five minutes will last longer than you think
You may think that you don’t need a short 5-minute break during your work hours but while using the pomodoro technique you will realize how important those different little breaks during the day are. But most importantly, you’ll realize there’s ton of things that can be done during a mere 5-minute period. Taking a break after every 25 minutes of work will allow you to finish a bunch of private affairs that would otherwise distract you from your job.
You can use the break to go through your personal to-do list. Or respond to your personal email. You can even use it to call your mom or your wife if that’s what relaxes you. Getting things done during your working hours will free you from distractions and allow you to really focus on your work when the pomodoro timer starts ticking.
You’ll get more done
One of the rules of this technique is that during the pomodoro sequences you’ll have to work distraction-free. That means no talking to the colleague next to you, no email checking, no coffee times.
Though this rule may be hard to follow, it’s crucial for your success. The researches have shown that it can take up to 25 minutes for a person to go back to its daily tasks after being interrupted. By working free of distractions you’ll get a lot more done. You’ll be completely focused on your job. This is a great way to improve your productivity.
You’ll know where your time goes
Additionally racing with pomodoro timers will help you understand how you are spending your time. It will allow you to see how much time does it take to finish which pharma marketing task. Some tasks will be finished in one sequence without a problem while others will take quite a few pomodoros to complete. Knowing how much time a certain task require will help you set up your day better and determine what you need to do quicker.
Is Pomodoro technique the best time management solution for your pharma brand?
Like I mentioned before, pomodoro time management technique was named after the tomato-shaped pomodoro timer Francesco Cirillo used to track his work during his studies. But don’t be fooled by its silly name, pomodoro is a lifesaver for every busy digital pharma marketer. So download a pomodoro application to your desktop. Or use your stopwatch or kitchen timer instead. But make sure to try it out and tell me how you like it in the comment section below.
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