The Pomodoro Technique: can you focus – really focus – for 25 minutes?

Posted on August 6, 2008 by Eric Lefevre-Ardant

Interesting presentation from Staffan Noteberg on Pomodoro, a technique of Italian origins to help focus when working. It was very good, as I got exactly what I was expecting: an overview of the technique, with examples and even some experimenting during the session.

Quick overview: the idea is that a kitchen clock greatly helps focusing for a period of time, 25 mins nominally. Then, there are a few techniques to fend external (and internal!) interruptions. A couple simple tools such as a todo list and a tracking sheet are useful too.
I won’t go into the details, but the technique seems worth looking into. Very close to the concept of GTD – Getting Things Done.

Pomodoro Technique – session from Agile2008 in Toronto

I loved the hand-drawn slides! A fresh change from the usual.

Focus with the Pomodoro Technique Focus with the Pomodoro Technique Focus with the Pomodoro Technique Focus with the Pomodoro Technique Focus with the Pomodoro Technique Focus with the Pomodoro Technique Focus with the Pomodoro Technique Focus with the Pomodoro Technique Focus with the Pomodoro Technique Focus with the Pomodoro Technique Focus with the Pomodoro Technique

Also, check out all my pictures from Agile 2008.

Update (10/08/08): I am happy to report that this session has been selected by the other participants for the re-runs on the last day. Maybe this post helped? ;-)
Session Re-runs

About Eric Lefevre-Ardant

Independent technical consultant.
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2 Responses to The Pomodoro Technique: can you focus – really focus – for 25 minutes?

  1. Staffan Nöteberg says:
    August 10, 2008 at 20:57

    Your posting definitively helped advertising my session. And thanks for the positive feedback about the slides.

  2. Pingback: [Agile 2009] Self-management: Pomodoro « Eric Lefevre-Ardant on Java & Agile

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