Oops, I did it again. I went off on a tangent. While researching some terminology for a specialized translation I had to deliver the other day, I was studying research papers to find the most recent term, and the next thing I knew, I was looking at koala baby slings online.
And I don't even have a baby!
That's where the Pomodoro Technique comes in handy.
This is how it works: You set a timer for 25 minutes, work until it rings, then take a five-minute break. Then, you repeat the whole process as many times as needed.
It may sound somewhat childish, but it works. Precisely because it's a simple method, it's easy to implement in your daily routine. It's difficult for us translators to focus, as we can't work completely offline. It's impossible for us to switch off completely. We always have to research the odd term and communicate with PMs, team members, etc.
But the little tomato can keep us on track.
These are challenging times for translators. You know it, and I know it. That's why a little tip like this could go a long way.
As workflow may not have been optimal, it's possible that we have agreed to translate texts beyond our comfort zone.
Or we may have started translating texts from a language we haven't completely mastered yet.
We wander around, unsure how to proceed. We miss our usual workflow, the texts that provided us not just with income but with comfort, too. The 25-minute focus can keep these feelings aside as we concentrate only on what's on our plate. You may not believe it at first, but the little tomato can work wonders.
Have you ever tried something similar?
Thanks for reading!
