Do you manage your time, or does time manage you?

Welcome back! This month, we're talking time management techniques and finding out how salespeople can maximize productivity and minimize burnout. This is the first of a three part series, and we're starting off with the Pomodoro Technique.

Pomodoro is one of the most widely-practiced time management techniques. But, if you asked the Italian speaking population, they'd probably call it the Tomato Technique.

We say tomato, Cirillo says Pomodoro

Francesco Cirillo invented the Pomodoro Technique based on a tomato-shaped kitchen timer he used in university. He would twist it to a specific time limit, and use the ticking as the background score while he focused on getting things done. Once the timer hit zero, the ringing would signal a quick recess. A few minutes later, Cirillo would get back to work, winding up the timer once more. Four Pomodoro cycles later, he would take a longer break of 30-40 minutes. And, why not? He’d earned it after all. Maybe he could go get a sandwich. Maybe the sandwich would also come with a pomodoro.

Pavlov meets Productivity

More than being a technique, Pomodoro is a discipline. It takes practice, and once the routine sets in, it’s crunch time. Similar to AMRAP (As Many Reps As Possible) in functional training regimes, the goal is to do as much as possible within a specific amount of time. The quick breaks light up the reward centers in the brain. This, in turn, serves as motivation to go hard in the next set. Instead of a fight against time, each Pomodoro cycle encourages the practitioner to test their own limits and push beyond. The result is a healthy relationship with work, and a break-up with procrastination.

With “No Distractions” as one of the main tenets, the Pomodoro Technique encourages participants to put any and all distractions away. No phone, no screens (other than the one you’re using, of course), no excuses. Using a digital timer or app to keep time? No can do. You’ll get interrupted by notifications. Get a good old mechanical timer. Total immersion, 25 minutes at a time, that’s the name of the game.

On The Bright Side

The Pomodoro Technique could be useful while shopping online. We all know it takes hours of browsing before we can find what we want, if we really want it. The next time you feel the craving to go on an online shopping spree, twist the tomato. If you don’t find what you’re looking for in 25 minutes, you don’t buy anything. Expense averted! You’re welcome.

Want to get your own tomato timer? Click on the Pomodoro below!

Looking to do a deep dive into the Pomodoro Technique? Here's the book from the man behind the method himself — Francesco Cirillo.

Which vegetable is actually a fruit?

Leave your answer in the comments!

And…?Huddle Break!

Join us next week, where we'll do a deep dive into the Eisenhower Matrix. Thank you for subscribing and including us in your timeout between sales. We can't wait to huddle up with you again.