An Easy Way to Keep Yourself—and Your Kids—Focused and Productive

James Scott is a certified hypnotist who has helped many people over the years to reduce stress, stop smoking, and change many other habits and behaviors.

As school season starts, many parents may find themselves beginning to stress about how they are going to keep their children—and themselves—focused and on task without getting burned out. Have no fear, I’ve got an easy solution for you: The Pomodoro Technique.

I discovered this amazing tool back in 2014 when I was finishing up my undergraduate degree in communications. Previously, I had always been one of those people who would spend hours studying or doing homework without breaks. When I finally closed the books and crawled into bed each night, I found it hard to turn my brain off and go to sleep—even though I was exhausted.

After hearing me complain several times about being so tired after doing schoolwork, a colleague recommended The Pomodoro Technique. I was hesitant at first to change my routine, but I decided to give it a go. I’m so glad I did! Suddenly, I was able to complete tasks in less time and not feel drained.

So, what is this magical technique and how does it work? The Pomodoro Technique is essentially a time management system created in the late 1980s by Francesco Cirillo, a university student who had been looking for an effective way to focus on his studies.

Cirillo developed a system of working in 25-minute increments, without interruption, with five-minute breaks in between. Using the Italian word for tomato­—a reference to the classic, red, vegetable-shaped kitchen timer—he named his method The Pomodoro Technique.

Essentially, the process consists of 6 steps: choose a task you would like to get done; set a timer for 25 minutes; work on the task until the timer rings (avoiding all distractions); when the timer rings, put a checkmark on a piece of paper; take a short break (5 minutes of activity that is not work-related, such as taking a walk or grabbing a cup of coffee); after 4 cycles, take a longer break (20-30 minutes). It’s just that simple!

The key thing to remember is that during those 25-minute segments you only work on that one task. Don’t answer a call or text (trust me, it can wait), don’t check your email (unless that is the task you are working on), and don’t look for memes on Facebook (you know you waste way too much time doing that). By staying on task for 25 minutes, you avoid distractions and maintain focus.

Also, when you take breaks, don’t think about the task. Do something that has nothing to do with work. This will allow your brain to reset, preventing burnout.

For me, that was a major a-ha moment. After using The Pomodoro Technique for only a few days, I found myself being much more productive and having much more energy. It was easy to see why productivity experts all over the world have adopted this system.

Try this technique yourself and teach it to your children. You’ll be amazed at the results!

To learn more about The Pomodoro Technique, visit https://francescocirillo.com/pages/pomodoro-technique. Also, you can find a convenient online timer to use with the system at https://tomato-timer.com/.

That’s it for this month. Until next time, keep thinking good thoughts!

By James Scott
Board Certified Hypnotist
Director, Chesapeake Bay Hypnosis

 

James Scott is a world-renowned professional hypnotist, comedy stage hypnotist, mind reader and influence trainer. For more than 25 years, he has been entertaining audiences all over the world with his mesmerizing hypnosis and mind reading shows.
 From corporate boardrooms and hotel ballrooms to private parties and school events, James brings both charm and expertise to bear to captivate, educate and motivate groups all over the world. 
 A 20-year Navy veteran, James began performing in 1993 while stationed in Hawaii. Now retired from military service, he travels the globe demonstrating the awesome power of the human mind -- often with hilarious results!
 Offstage, he has used hypnosis to help countless people overcome fears, bad habits and negative behaviors in order to take back control of their lives. James is a board-certified hypnotist and a certified trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming.