This is an I-Heart podcast.

Good morning. This is Laura.

Welcome to the new corner office, the podcast where we share strategies for thriving in the new world of work,

where location and hours are more flexible than in the past.

Today's tip is to use a timer to define 25 minutes of work. When it's hard to focus, 25-minute

sprints can help you accomplish your most important tasks. Don't get distracted by ruminating

on your lack of time. Instead, set your timer and get to work,

because you can do a lot in 25 minutes. The Pomodoro technique, as this approach is known,

was developed by Francesco Cirillo. The name comes from the classic kitchen timer that's shaped

like a tomato, Pomodoro,

in Italian, but any timer will work. Here's how the Pomodoro technique works. Identify a task

or a component of a task that you need to do. Set your timer and get started. When the timer goes off,

make a check mark to indicate you've completed 25 minutes of solid work on the task. Take a short break, then repeat the process,

until you've completed four Pomodoras, that is, four 25-minute sprints. At that point,

take a slightly longer break and start the process again.

I think there are a few reasons that this method works for many people. First, you have a clear goal.

You know what you need to do. You don't sit down just to work for 25 minutes. You have a specific

accomplishment you're working toward.

Second, you're focusing on nothing but that goal for 25 minutes. You're monotasking.

While plenty of people take pride in their ability to multitask, they are usually overestimating

their abilities. And if we're honest with ourselves, we probably know that.

We've all had days when we've had multiple projects in play, plus a continual stream of emails

...