App Alert! Pomodoro

By Gilmarie Brioso on October 31, 2012

I am starting to believe that our generation suffers from mild forms of ADHD. It’s not our fault, really. We are just products of our upbringing, of the creation of this Internet world which brought on the development of computers, laptops, smartphones, music devices, etc. Which we now tend to use all at once.

I often find myself using up to four devices at a time: my laptop, open to Pandora, while I check my Chase account on my phone, using my IPod Touch as a calculator and typing numbers into my Kindle, more specifically the Evernote app where I keep all of my financial records.

We are simply used to doing multiple things at once. This is especially true of us New Yorkers, who proudly don the “get s**t done” mentality. This creates great efficiency. However, when we, college students in particular, have to sit down to read for class or work on a paper or construct a project, we are constantly distracted, by text messages, email notifications or alerts.

That is why the pomodoro method works so well with the jitters of our generation.

And guess what? There’s even an app for that.

*

Pomodoro is a time management technique that uses a timer to split work into twenty-five minute intervals. These twenty-five minute intervals are called pomodoros, the Italian word for tomato, named so after old kitchen timers that often came in that shape.

The process is simple; you…

  1. Choose a task to be accomplished.
  2. Work for twenty-five minutes straight. No cheating!
  3. Take a five-minute break to check your phone, grab a snack, go to the bathroom, etc.

With the pomodoro technique, you dedicate time solely to your work; but you are also allowed time to get your jitters out. In addition, after every four pomodoros, you take a longer break of about ten to fifteen minutes.

 

There are many pomodoro apps, but I suggest the one by Inigo Beitia.

Why?

It’s free!

This app also allows you to add and edit assignments onto a task to-do list in order to keep track of what needs to get done.

In addition, the app keeps track of your record so that you can see which days are more productive and then adjust your schedule accordingly.

After your first couple of uses, you can adjust the length of the pomodoros and breaks in order to fit what best suits your work style. 

Now this one’s my favorite. The timer’s countdowns are accompanied by a low ticking sound that I find absolutely soothing. But if it’s not your thing, you have the option of shutting that feature off.

 

 

 

 

 

*Image by Helen in Wales

**All Pomodoro images taken from their site on the App Store

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