focus | Dare Boldly

The Pomodoro Technique

When a big task looms, my tendency is to dive-in headfirst, think later, and organize last. It’s as if my mind shifts into overdrive, declaring, “Just do it, Louise, or you’ll never finish!” And so I plunge in, relentlessly pushing until the job is done. My hyper-focus can be an admirable trait, I can get a lot done and am adept at juggling multiple balls all at once while staying focused on the task at hand.

The trouble is, in my ‘get ‘er done’ mode of getting the job done, if it involves multiple components, I have a natural tendency to hop between them without much thought for logistics or logical order. This chaotic approach often leads to burnout, frustration, and a final result that’s either haphazardly completed or abandoned altogether. (Not my proudest trait, I admit.)

Yesterday, while wrestling with my disorganized studio (yes, even organizers struggle with organization), I realized I needed a more focused, strategic approach. Taking a break from the chaos, I brewed a cup of tea and turned to Dr. Google for advice on “How to tackle big tasks without burning out.”

That’s when I stumbled upon The Pomodoro Technique. Invented and named by Francesco Cirillo, an Italian university student who used a tomato-shaped timer to power through his final exams (pomodoro is Italian for tomato), this technique aims to combat burnout, procrastination, and overwhelm.

The premise is simple: break your work into 25-minute chunks, timing each segment. At the end of each 25 minutes, take a five-minute break. After four of these focused sessions, take a longer break of 25-30 minutes.

By the time I discovered the Pomodoro Technique, I’d been working in my studio for 3 hours. And, while I’d accomplished a fair bit, I felt overwhelmed by all I still had to do to create calm in my creative space. It was late in the day when I applied the Pomodoro, and yet, after four 25 + 5-minute cycles, I felt more accomplished, calm and content, than in the previous 3 hours of work. Let’s see how today unfolds as I plan on incorporating it into my process to complete the task and move onto the storage area and garage!

BTW – During my Dr. Google consultation, I did come across other time management systems. After all, organizing our time and energy is a personal matter. I’ve tried countless methods, always slipping back into haphazard chaos. For me, the Pomodoro Technique seems to resonate with my natural rhythms and need for variety and focus all at the same time. Knowing the timer will ring in 25 minutes keeps me on task and prevents me from spiraling into “just get it done” overwhelm. Plus, it reminds me to take frequent breaks – which are much healthier than my ‘do it ’til I drop’ method for accomplishing physical labour oriented tasks.

Other Time Management Methods:

Timeboxing: Set a fixed amount of time for a task and work on it until the time is up, regardless of whether it’s finished.
Time Blocking: Schedule specific blocks of time in your day for different tasks or activities.
Eat the Frog: Tackle your most challenging or unpleasant task first thing in the morning.
Getting Things Done (GTD): Capture, organize, and prioritize tasks, breaking down large projects into smaller steps.
Flowtime Technique: Work on a task until you naturally feel like taking a break.
The Eisenhower Matrix: Prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance.

Remember when you could lose yourself in a good book for hours? Or watch a movie without checking your phone? If those days seem distant, you’re not alone. Research suggests our attention spans are indeed shrinking.

In one study, the average person’s focus lasted a mere 8 seconds before switching – shorter than a goldfish! More recent findings put us at 47 seconds, a far cry from the 2.5 minutes measured just twenty years ago.

What’s really going on with my aging brain?

In the digital whirlwind of our world today, it’s easy to fear that our brains are showing the wear and tear of modern life. But by reclaiming our focus, we can counter those fears and age with grace and intention. Because, let’s face it. It’s not all about our aging brains. Along with the accessibility of digital information, when you throw in the stress of a pandemic, it’s no wonder our attention spans are feeling the strain. We’re constantly bombarded with news updates, TikTok trends, and notifications galore. This constant stream of notifications and content are training our brains to crave novelty and quick hits of information. Our brains are practically being rewired to jump from one thing to the next, always seeking the next quick hit of dopamine. It’s like we’re training ourselves to have the attention span of that goldfish!

But there’s hope. As we age, many of us yearn for a slower pace, for the ability to savour moments and be present. Strengthening our attention span is a vital step in that direction.

Five Simple Practices to Reclaim Your Focus

Embrace Mindfulness: Daily mindfulness practice, like meditation or journaling (with pen and paper!), can train your brain to stay in the present moment.
Spend Time in Nature: Leave your phone behind and immerse yourself in the natural world. Simply observing the sights and sounds can be incredibly calming and restorative.
Ditch the Devices (Sometimes): Yes, it can be scary to disconnect, but the rewards are worth it. Challenge yourself to leave your phone at home for a few hours and rediscover the joys of real-world experiences.
Engage in Long-Form Activities: Read a whole book, listen to a long-form podcast, write a letter – activities that require sustained focus can rewire your brain for deeper engagement.
Practice Self-Compassion: Don’t beat yourself up if your mind wanders. Building new habits takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself, celebrate small victories, and keep at it.

Aging with Grace and Focus

As we age, the fear of mental decline is not uncommon, but it doesn’t have to be our reality. By actively nurturing our attention span, as well as our overall well-being through exercise, diet and lifelong learning, we can counter those fears and live each day with intention and clarity.

What are you doing to keep your mind sharp and engaged? Share your tips in the comments below!