Timers, productivity, and dividends uncharted.

It’s hard doing a time study. Oh, checking off every 15 minutes isn’t so bad, but being honest about how time is expensed…that’s painful.

The Pomodoro method—20 minutes on-task, break, then back at it—is nothing new. University student Francesco Cirillo created the Pomodoro Technique in the late 1980s. He used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer to organize his study schedule, and that’s where it got its name. (Italian “pomodoro” translates to “tomato” in English.

Old/new it doesn’t matter if you don’t put a technique into practice.

In my case, I was forced to take frequent breaks from my screen time because my eyes are lazy. If I spend large amounts of time working at a computer monitor, my vision is blurry for hours to come.

I found, even in my computer’s onboard tool suite, adequate timer tools that help me keep on task—and encourage me to time out when I need to, too!

This is not a monetized blog. I get no kickbacks for anything recommended, so I am not even going to bother. Anyone can find dozens of timer tools (FREE) online.

What I’d like to mention is that I’m now a true believer. Long live the tomato timer.

Seriously, I am so much more productive and so less tired using this technique. Best of all, my eyes are not suffering like they were!

An added dividend: I am more conscious of how I spend my time. MUCH more conscious of it. When I approach a task, I now consider how many intervals it may take to knock it out. I also plan just what to do during the breaks from screen time. Will I do a walk about and visit with a colleague? Will I take a call or two? Will I just walk or nap or eat? Listen to music or a podcast or consume some other media that’s not taxing on the eyes and attention?

Try putting a time tracker into play. At first it will be discouraging and bothersome, but after a week, I’ve had a revolution in my time management, productivity, and vision.