You Say Tomato, I Say Focusing Help !
Have you ever sat down to focus on a task, stopped to do "one quick thing," and two hours later, you don't know where the time went, but you sure didn't mean to organize your junk drawer? Or, in my case, look at Pinterest for ideas on how to organize your junk drawer. It happens. Luckily, the Pomodoro Method** is a lifesaver that helps your child (and you) focus.
** Fun fact: Pomodoro is tomato in Italian. I don't know why the Pomodoro method is named after an Italian tomato, but here we are.
The Pomodoro Method is a time management technique that breaks tasks into manageable time chunks. This technique can be used for homework, chores, or other areas needing extra attention. While your child attempting all their homework at once can feel daunting for anyone, looking at them in reasonable chunks can help both anxiety and productivity.
For middle schoolers, I recommend 20 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break. After completing three sessions, take a 15-minute break.
How It Works:
Choose a task your child should work on.
Set a timer for 20 minutes and work without distractions. I use this free website to write blogs, complete computer tasks, etc.
After 20 minutes, take a 5-minute break when the timer goes off.
Repeat the 20/5 minute cycles three times.
take a longer break (15-30 minutes) after three cycles.
Don’t Do This
During breaks, your child might want to dash to their electronic device of choice. Don't let them. No, no, no! (you can blame me). This will suck their brain back into the unproductive, digital zone from which, let's be honest, they might not return. Brain breaks should include movement, such as playing with a pet, annoying you and/or a sibling, or shooting hoops. Movement will get "the wiggles out" and, more importantly, help your child focus for the next Pomodoro session.
Mix it Up!
Like every strategy, I recommend trying things out and tweaking them for what works best for your family. Does your kid only focus well for 15 minutes and then need a break? Do it! Does it make more sense for your family to complete two Pomodoro sessions and then head to soccer? Go team! If you have any questions, suggestions, praise, or Jennifer Garner's email, please contact me at katiespeetzen@gmail.com.
