Pomodoro is an excellent technique to fight back procrastination. In this technique a person is required to turn off all distractions and to completely focus on a task for 25 minutes.
I used this technique four times to do a few things which I was postponing, and it also helped me to do other tasks in less time.
First tick: submitting Amal NIC form and filling UBL bank slip
I got this mail from the Amal team to submit the NIC collection form, but I was unable to fill it for several reasons.
I also needed to submit admission fee for MPhil. I got UBL slip but was unable to fill it.
I set the first Pomodoro time for these two tasks.
I completed both tasks before time (in 20 minutes and 11 seconds), although it was not as simple as it seemed. I needed to take front and back side pictures of NIC and renamed it too. For that bank slip, I searched for a video and filled that form accordingly as I had no experience with UBL deposit slips.
Distractions:
· I twice felt a need to check how much time is remaining
· I felt a need to remove the extra tabs when I was searching that video
· I wanted to take screenshots (which I did not avoid and took)
Reward:
I did not give any reward to myself as the feeling of getting these two tasks was already much to feel happy about. I was also feeling good and motivated for finishing these tasks in less time.
Tick 2: Ironing 3 dresses with Pomodoro
I had to iron 5 dresses, so I chose to finish some of it with Pomodoro technique. I took three dresses and set the timer. I finished this task in 26 minutes.
Distractions:
· A need to turn on some music as I usually listen to song when I press clothes.
· My brother needed some help, so I needed to tell him not for disturb me for 20 minutes
· The switch got loose which also wasted some of my time and was distracting
Reward:
I opened WhatsApp for 6 minutes and replied to 4,5 contacts.
Tick 3 and 4: cleaning all rooms
I use Pomodoro technique two more times to clean all rooms. I finished cleaning just on time (at the end of second Pomodoro).
Distraction:
· My mother wanted me to do some other chores first
· My sister asked me to explain two questions to her
· At the end, I felt a need to leave it and read something instead
Reward:
I read a chapter of a book I have started recently.
Experience and outcome
It was overall a nice experience, I will not say it was easy but not that difficult either. I did finish all the tasks I planned to do. It also saved a lot of time and helped me even do the task which I was postponing.
I like this technique and I plan to use it in future. I can improve the outcome by telling my family members about this technique and asking them not to disturb me for 25 minutes.
