Here in the Sir Apfelot Blog, the Pomodoro Technique plays a role from time to time. Time management for concentrated work is becoming increasingly popular. Especially in times when people are increasingly working from home, methods for more efficient work are required. The Pomodoro technique has been around since the 1980s. However, developers and creative people never tire of taking on the concept and creating their own offerings around it. In this post you will find various examples - apps, videos and more for using the Pomodoro Technique on Mac, iPhone and elsewhere.
Chapter in this post:
How does the Pomodoro Technique work?
What exactly the Pomodoro technique (also called Pomodoro method) is and how it came about, I have already shown you in detail here: Flow App - Pomodoro technology for efficient work on the Mac. In addition to the Flow app, which you can use on the Apple Mac for more efficient work, I also show you the individual steps for Pomodoro in the linked article from December 2020:
- Formulate the task to be done in writing
- Set the alarm clock, kitchen timer or app to 25 minutes
- Process the task until the alarm goes off; then mark work status
- Take a short break (about 5 or 10 minutes)
- Repeat and take a longer break after four pomodori (15 to 20 minutes)
Pomodoro Apps for Mac and iPhone
The link included above already shows you an app name: Flow. I can recommend the Flow app for macOS if you are looking for minimalist software that counts down the time for you, separates work and break phases and thus helps you to use the Pomodoro method. The free version is actually sufficient for this. But there are also pro functions that you can unlock for a fee - such as statistics for time optimization. You can find the flow download in the App Store.
An app that is available for iOS, iPadOS and watchOS in addition to macOS is Focus. I have already presented these to you and shown some details in this article from July 2021: Focus - App for Pomodoro technique and interval work. Since you can use this software on mobile devices like iPhone or Apple Watch, it's not just for working on the computer. You can also use them as signal transmitters when studying or reading, when doing housework or gardening, and in many other areas.
There is also a simple and individually configurable app for the Pomodoro technique on the Apple Mac tomato bar. The app settles in the macOS menu bar and can be adjusted from there with a small menu. The work interval, the pause interval and sounds for initiating the same can be set. You can download the TomatoBar app free of charge from the GitHub software platform: Have a look here. The current version 3.1 requires a newer macOS (Big Sur / Monterey). The earlier versions can be used for older Mac operating systems.
YouTube Videos: Study With Me with Music and Pomodoro Timer
If you don't just want to run an app with a simple timer and a few sound effects to make work more efficient, you can also use corresponding YouTube videos. You can find these e.g. B. by searching for the terms "Study With Me". In the videos, some with and some without the Pomodoro technique, you mostly see people who are learning. The whole thing is often accompanied by music. A channel where there are several such videos as well as lofi streams to choose from is about Abao in Tokyo. Here is an example of a video with a timer, music and rain:
Back to the beginning: kitchen timer for the Pomodoro method
Maybe apps, videos and other digital offers for efficient work are too much for you. After all, you have to download it, set it, turn it on, close it, and the like. These can all be traps for distraction and procrastination. If you want to go back to the origins of the Pomodoro technique, then simply use a kitchen timer - perhaps true to the name in the shape of a tomato. Or leave a comment with your tips for more efficient time management at work! I'm curious how you handle this.
- Mechanical kitchen timer in a striking and attractive tomato shape. Ideal as a stopwatch for the kitchen, children's room,...
- Mechanical timer. The kitchen timer works without batteries and is always ready for use, reliable,...
- Timer in tomato design with an easy-to-read round scale; 59 minutes timing. Also perfect as an egg timer. Good...
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After graduating from high school, Johannes completed an apprenticeship as a business assistant specializing in foreign languages. But then he decided to research and write, which resulted in his independence. For several years he has been working for Sir Apfelot, among others. His articles include product introductions, news, manuals, video games, consoles, and more. He follows Apple keynotes live via stream.
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