Putting Time on Your Side with the Pomodoro Technique
—Jay Sailors
Between smartphones and computers, we have more distractions today than ever before. It's critical,1 therefore, to find ways to work efficiently2 and avoid procrastination. For many, the simple, low-tech Pomodoro Technique is the answer.
Developed by Francesco Cirillo, this simple, easy-to-learn technique begins with a kitchen timer. Just set the timer for 25 minutes, work until time is up, take a five-minute break, and then repeat. Each work period is called a pomodoro, which is Italian for "tomato"; the name comes from the tomato-shaped timer Cirillo used in college.3 After four pomodoro sessions, take a longer break of 25 to 30 minutes. The regular breaks help keep your mind fresh, improving your focus and ability to think.
Using this technique, you can easily track your work. For each pomodoro completed, mark an X on a piece of paper to judge your progress. Of course, this method is not for everyone and isn't best for every type of work. Many people, though, have found it to be a fantastic4 way to regulate5 how they work or study and improve their efficiency. Just be careful not to get distracted before breaking for lunch—racking up all those "tomatoes" can make you pretty hungry!
番茄時間管理法讓工作更有效率
在智慧型手機和電腦之間，現今讓我們分心的事物比以往任何時候都要多。因此，找到讓工作有效率並避免拖延的方法至關重要。對很多人來說，簡單低技術的「番茄時間管理法」就是解決辦法。
這個簡單易學的方法始於一個廚房計時器，是由法蘭西斯科．奇里洛所研發。只要把計時器設定為二十五分鐘，工作至時間到為止，休息五分鐘，然後重新開始。每一段工作期間稱為一個pomodoro，這個字是義大利文的「番茄」；這個名字來自奇里洛在大學時使用的番茄造型計時器。在四個「番茄」時間之後休息一段較長的時間，大約二十五到三十分鐘。規律的休息有助於讓神志清明，提升專注力及思考能力。
利用這個方法，你就可以輕鬆追蹤工作進度。每完成一個「番茄」，就在一張紙上畫一個X來評估進度。當然，這個方法不一定適合每個人，也不是對每種工作都最適合。不過很多人發現這是規範他們如何工作或唸書，以及提升效率一種很棒的方式。只要小心不要在午餐休息前分心了：累積這麼多「番茄」可能會讓你飢腸轆轆！
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