This is a tomato. Many timers in Italy are in the shape of this fruit, hence the name of the technique.
For those of you who don't know, I support myself by teaching High School. That means that I get the Summers off! It also means that for two months out of the year I become a creative-type - making music, drawing (yes, I draw), making videos and generally doing what I would prefer to be doing all the time.
I mention this because my intention this year is to be more creative and productive than I've ever been before and I plan on accomplishing this by using the Pomodoro Technique.
This technique was developed by an Italian student, Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The basic idea is to break up your work into 25 minute sessions punctuated with 5 & 15 minute breaks. One would work intensely, completely focused on the task at hand and then stop right at the end of the 25 minute span. Usually, you would complete three Pomodoros (that's what each session is called) with 5 minute breaks following and then finish the fourth one with a fifteen minute break.
There are many good things about this technique. One is that if I'm working at my computer for many Pomodoros, the break allows me to stretch and relieve my body of the stresses of sitting for prolonged periods of time. Another is that the breaks allow me to do little fiddly bits around the house or at work that only take a little time. Even though this isn't really resting, it is a diversion and allows me to return to my Pomodoros refreshed.
I have used this technique on and off throughout the last few years but this is the first time that I'm committing to a disciplined regimen on a daily basis. I'll keep you all posted on how it's working out. I'm hopeful that it will bear some wonderful fruit.