it exceeds procrastination and be more productive in it

And sometimes you happen to enter the next scenario? Face a complex task: perhaps a new functionality to be implemented, a white page in the figma that intimidates you or a marketing plan that simply is not bound. The deadline is approaching threateningly and you … look at the cursor that flashes on an empty screen. Open a new card. Check the e -mail quickly, then slack or social media. Half an hour later, you feel guilty, more stressed and blocked. Procrastination has won again and the anxiety that you will not deliver in time begins to make its presence felt.

This struggle with the postponement and lack of concentration is exhausting and unfortunately very common in the dynamic work environment. The pressure to provide quality code, innovative projects or successful marketing campaigns, all under the pressure of the time, can transform a working day into a marathon of interruptions and stress.

Fortunately, there is a solution: such a simple method that seems almost counterintuitive in the complexity of the digital world. It’s called Technical Tomato and it is a time management makeup that can help you take control of how your work day flows, to improve concentration and provide more, with less stress.

In this article, we will explore in detail what the tomato technique is, how you can apply it step by step, for those who (and for what tasks) is ideal in the technological field, what free tools you can use some practical suggestions to successfully integrate it into your daily routine.

What is the tomato technique and how does it apply?

Developed in the late 1980s by the then student Francesco Cirillo, the tomato technique received its name from a tomato cooking timer (in Italian, «tomato»).

The basic principle is the division of work in short and concentrated intervals, separated by regular breaks.

The goal is not to work more, but to work more intelligently, protecting your most precious resource: attention.

The application of the tomato technique is extremely simple and is based on 5 fundamental steps:

1. Choose a single activity.

Decide what you want to work on. It is essential to focus on a single activity during a work interval.

2. Set a 25 -minute stopwatch.

This time interval is called «tomato». I mean a tomato. Maybe, cherry.

3. He works intensely and uninterruptedly to the chosen task.

During these 25 minutes of tomato, they ignore anything else. Close notifications, telephone, and -mail. If another idea comes to mind, write it quickly to bring it closer later.

4. After the end of the interval, take a short break, 5 minutes.

When the timer plays, stop. Get up by the office, take a few steps, drink a glass of water. IMPORTANT: Don’t do nothing at work in this break!

5. Repeat the cycle.

After 4 «tomato» sessions, take a longer break, 15-30 minutes. This time it allows you to relax and prepare for the next series of tasks.

Who adapts to the tomato technique in the IT field?

The tomato technique is particularly effective for technology professionals whose role requires periods of profound concentration, both technical and creative. It is also ideal for prolonged studies or work sessions on homework at the Newtech Academy.

• Developers: To write a clean code, implement complex algorithms or reflect, a total focus is required. A 25 -minute tomato is the perfect interval to immerse yourself in the code without being interrupted.
• UX Designer: The creative process also requires concentration. Use a tomato to create wireframe, work on a mockup, develop a design or element system based on feedback. The short breaks are essential to «restore» the look and see fresh eyes.
• Marketing specials: Writing an article on the blog, creating a copy of ads, planning of a calendar content or data analysis in a campaign are activities that require uninterrupted attention to be efficiently done.
• Project Manager and analysts: When you have to write detailed specifications, plan a sprint or write a relationship, the tomato technique helps you spend time dedicated to these essential administrative tasks.

Types of duties ideal for tomato

For developers and QA:

• Implementation of a small function or an endpoint of bees.
• Write unit tests for a specific class.
• Solve a well -defined bug.
• Review of a revision of the Pull request code).

For designers:

• Creation of wireframe for a new screen.
• Design of a series of personalized ads.
• Choose and test the color palette for a new project.
• Creation of an interactive prototype in Figma or Adobe XD.

For marketing specialists:

• Write a draft for a newsletter or an article on the blog.
• Search for keywords for a new SEO campaign.
• Setting a Google Ads or Facebook Ads campaign.
• Analysis of the performance of posts on social media of the last week.

Where is the tomato very suitable?

The method can be more difficult to apply to roles which, by their nature, reactive and based on constant interruptions. For example, a manager in consecutive sessions or a support specialist who must answer instantly to urgent issues may have difficulty protecting an uninterrupted interval of 25 minutes.

In addition, sometimes, the creative process in some roles is based on a flow that can prove difficult to adapt to rigid intervals – this does not necessarily mean giving up tomato, but it is good to face the work intervals with a little more flexibility.

Online tools for free (afraid) Stil Tomato

You don’t need a red -shaped physical timer (even if, if you can find one, it can be an excellent gift idea for a connoisseur).

There are numerous free applications and websites that can help you with the application of the tomato technique:

• Tomatotimer: Minimalist and extremely simple to use. Perfect to start immediately.
• Pomofocus: A popular option, with a clean design, which allows you to add a list of activities and estimate the number of sessions required.
• Study with me: Offers both the classic Tomer Tomato and the option to customize the duration for work and breaks.

Tips to maximize the efficiency of the tomato technique

To make sure you make the most of this technique, take into account the following suggestions:

• Plan your work sessions. At the beginning of the day, make a list of tasks and esteem how many «tomato» sessions each require.
• Protect your concentration. A «tomato» is indivisible. If you see yourself in the face of the need to stop, postpone the interruption to the break or cancel the current session and resume it. Be stopped, but polite, if the interruption is human: «I’m concentrated on something now, can we speak more than 15 minutes?».
• The breaks are mandatory. Don’t skip the breaks. Your brain needs this time to rest and assimilate information. Use them to completely disconnect from the screen.
• Adapts the duration (if necessary). Although 25/5 is the classic recipe, you can experience longer intervals (e.g. 50/10) if the work style allows it.
• Combine sessions for large tasks. A task such as the redpage of a site is too large. Decompose it in smaller tasks: research and institution, section of heroes wireframing, design of the carousel testimony, etc.

Conclusion: take control of your time

The tomato technique is not a magical formula, but an elegant system that brings structure and discipline to a world of digital chaos. By adopting this work rate – concentrated sprints followed by conscious pauses – you will be able to combat procrastination, but also to improve quality, reduce exhaustion and rediscover the satisfaction of completing things.

Our challenge for you is simple: try the tomato technique for a single working day. Choose your activities, start the time trial and note the difference. You could be surprised by how productive and creative you can be in a few 25 minutes. Tell us on Facebook as the experience seemed to you!