How to Boost Creative Focus and Fun with This Simple Time-Management Hack
The world is a distracting place and its impact on our creative lives is only getting worse.
Every time I sit down to create (draw, write, or build), it feels like an adventure.
But if I’m not careful, interruptions of all kinds can easily set me off course. Phones, social media, the Internet, and stray thoughts are all vying for my attention.
Sometimes the distractions are welcomed ones. But more often than not, they make the creative effort take longer. A session that should be 30 minutes could take 2 hours or more.
Fighting off distractions every few moments turns the creative process into a chore.
If this sounds like your creative battle every time you sit down to make your art, there’s a simple technique that can give you back your focus and make the creative process fun again.
It’s called the Pomodoro Technique.
Pomodoro Technique 101
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s.
The technique gets its name from the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used as a university student. Cirillo would break his work into manageable intervals, called "pomodoros," setting the timer for 25 minutes, followed by short breaks.
By using the Pomodoro Technique, you can improve your productivity, increase your focus, and even become smarter.
The Pomodoro Technique in 4 Steps
(7 if You’re Feeling Frisky)
The Pomodoro Technique is a simple and effective method that can be implemented in just 4 steps (7 if you go longer):
One Session
Step 1 — Choose a Task: Start by deciding on the task you want to work on. It could be a design project, a writing assignment, or any other creative task that requires your focus and attention.
Step 2 — Set the Pomodoro Timer: Set a timer for 25 minutes, which is the duration of one Pomodoro. You can use a physical timer or one of the many Pomodoro Technique apps available online.
Step 3 — Work on the Task: During the 25-minute pomodoro, focus solely on the chosen task. Avoid any distractions and immerse yourself in your work.
Step 4 — Take a Short Break: When the timer rings, take a short break of 5 minutes. Use this time to stretch, grab a snack, or do anything that helps you relax and recharge.
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Multiple Sessions in a Row
Step 5 — Repeat and Track your Progress: After the short break, start another Pomodoro by setting the timer for 25 minutes again. Repeat this cycle of work and short breaks until you complete four pomodoros. Keep track of your progress by marking a check on your sheet of paper or using a Pomodoro Technique app.
Step 6 — Take a Long Break: After completing four pomodoros, reward yourself with a longer break of 20 to 30 minutes. Use this time to rest, engage in a hobby, or do anything that brings you joy and relaxation.
Step 7 — Review and Reflect: Before starting a new set of pomodoros, take some time to review your completed tasks, reflect on what you've learned, and plan for the next set of pomodoros. This step helps you stay organized and focused on your goals.
Using Pomodoro at the Office
You’ll likely find that Pomodoro is far easier to implement when you personally control where you’re working.
When you’re at home, you make the rules.
When you’re at the office, others may make the rules for you.
We have to be a bit craftier with Pomodoro at the office because distractions take different forms—“urgent” emails, questions from colleagues, quick discussions, and requests from supervisors. These little fires add up over the course of a day and steal our attention.
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Here are a few tips for using Pomodoro in the Office:
Communicate — If you’re trying Pomodoro for the first time, let people around you know. Rarely will your team have a problem with you being more productive. They’ll more than likely respect your boundaries and support you.
Seclude Yourself — I often counteract this by secluding myself in conference rooms for part of the day, typically in the early morning when my creative brainpower is highest and hasn’t been depleted by decision fatigue. Early morning also works better for creative efforts because the rest of the office hasn’t caught up yet to the day.
Headphones — If I can’t find a separate space because they’ve all been signed out, I put my headphones on and ask those who approach me to please see me later that afternoon (or I will seek them out once I’m done).
Restart — If a distraction takes you away from the timer and there’s nothing you can do about it, let the event happen, but push off anything else until you have completed the task you set out to or until you’ve completed a full session with the timer.
Advanced Strategies to Enhance the Pomodoro Technique
If you’re feeling particularly courageous and would like to further enhance Pomodoro Technique’s effectiveness, consider incorporating the following strategies.
A word of caution though—make sure you’ve tested it out a few times with the base version of the technique first (25min on, 5min break).
Prioritize Your Tasks: Start each day by identifying the most important tasks that require your immediate attention. By prioritizing your tasks, you ensure that you focus your pomodoros on the most essential and impactful work.
Minimize Distractions: Create an environment that minimizes distractions to maximize your focus during each Pomodoro. Turn off notifications on your phone, close unnecessary tabs on your computer, and communicate your need for uninterrupted work time to your colleagues.
Experiment with Pomodoro Durations: While the traditional Pomodoro duration is 25 minutes, feel free to experiment with different durations to find what works best for you. Some creative professionals find shorter or longer intervals more suitable for their specific tasks and work style.
Reflect and Adapt: Regularly evaluate your progress and adapt the Pomodoro Technique to suit your evolving needs. Reflect on the number of pomodoros it takes to complete certain tasks, identify patterns in your productivity, and make adjustments as necessary.
Collaborate with Others: If you work in a team or collaborate with others, consider incorporating the Pomodoro Technique into your collective workflow. Coordinate your pomodoros with your teammates to ensure synchronized breaks and increased productivity as a group.
The goal is to tailor Pomodoro to your unique needs as a creative professional. Some of these may be more effective than others depending on your personal process.
How I Structure My Own Pomodoro Method
As a resident productivity and self-development nerd, I’d heard a lot of great things about the Pomodoro Technique.
A while back, I added a tool to my toolkit with the sole purpose to keep me focused when I’m writing—a round, digital timer.
Now when I sit down to write, I make sure the timer is nearby.
Click once to turn it on.
Click again to start the countdown.
I set it for 45 minutes and I let the words flow.
I don’t worry if they’re good. I don’t care if they work. For 45 minutes the world disappears and all that remains is the writing.
There’s only one rule—sit still or write.
Until then, the clock owns my time.
No Internet.
No Social Media.
No distractions.
In my own process, I’ve found the biggest benefit of Pomodoro is making meaningful progress on the work that matters to me. Using it gives me control back of my time and reduces the brute force effort I’d otherwise need to fight off distractions.
Sometimes I feel the “flow” of the process. When that happens, I don’t let Pomodoro slow me down. I dive right back into another 45 minutes.
I’m not so rigid in the process that I would hamper my flow state.
Like me, you too can adjust the duration of the “Pomodoros”, the breaks, and the rules to suit your process.
Final Thoughts
As a creative professional, your focus and time are your most valuable resources.
Pomodoro is about setting boundaries to protect those resources.
It offers us a simple yet powerful solution to boost our creative focus, make time management more enjoyable, and reclaim control over our work-life balance.
Give the Pomodoro Technique a try and experience the transformative effects it can have on your own creative journey.
TL;DR
Pomodoro Technique 101
How does the Pomodoro Technique work?
Using Pomodoro at the Office
Advanced Pomodoro Strategies
How I structure my own Pomodoro Technique
Quote of the Week
“Time flies. It’s up to you to be the navigator.”
— Robert Orben
That's all for now.
Stay creative, my friends—and have a great week!
