Pomodoro and PR – My Journey to Neo PR
We’ve all heard of Public Relations, but how many of us have heard of pomodoro?
After graduating from Loughborough University with a degree in Politics in 2021, I joined the world of B2C PR working as an Account Executive for a local PR agency in Market Harborough. Throughout my time at university, and as I started my career in the PR industry, remaining focused on the task at hand was my number one goal. So, what better way to remain on track than to abide by the humble tomato? I know, I know – let me explain.
The Method
The Pomodoro Method, which takes its name from the Italian word for tomato, is a time-management aid that I learned during my time at university while searching for a solution to working through huge chunks of political theory reading. The technique involves breaking your work day up into smaller, more manageable chunks, to increase productivity and to make it through the day in a less stressful and more focused manner. Each pomodoro lasts for 25 minutes, after which you can enjoy a five-minute break, perhaps by grabbing a drink. Once four pomodori have been completed, a longer, more substantial break is earned, which is a great way to catch up on emails or stroke a cat or two!
The method goes something like this, but it can be changed to fit your working style:
- Identify something to focus on
- Set the timer to 25 minutes
- Work on the set task until the timer expires
- Take a five-minute break
- Take a longer break every four pomodori
Applying the Method
Working as an Account Executive in PR means that every day is different. Whether you are copywriting, engaging in media relations, or interviewing a client, there is always something to be getting stuck into. By using this technique, I am able to manage my time more effectively, and ensure a degree of concentration to allow me to be as productive as possible while juggling various tasks simultaneously. My favourite way to use the technique is to hit start at the beginning of writing a press release, and aim to have a rough draft finished by the end of the first pomodoro.
Practicalities
Of course, there are times when the method isn’t all that suitable. Perhaps something unexpected comes up right in the middle of your pomodoro, or, say, a colleague wants to call and talk to you about a client. But that’s okay. Even if it works only half of the time, it still gives a strong structure to my day, which allows me to be more productive and get more done, which I think makes it worthwhile.
Conclusion
With or without pomodoro, I am now looking forward to getting started with Neo PR and to seeing what the future holds. I felt a strong connection with Ash, Jo, and the rest of the team as soon as I met them, and I am sure that this will be the perfect place for me to grow and take the next steps in my career, one pomodoro at a time.
For more info about the technique, click here.
To find out more about Ellis, you can find him on Twitter here, or LinkedIn here!
