Guardian – Work & Careers

The One Change that Worked: I Struggled to Get Any Work Done – Until I Bought a Kitchen Timer

Zahra Onsori, a freelance journalist, long battled procrastination and late‑night cramming. After purchasing a tomato‑shaped kitchen timer and applying the Pomodoro technique—25 minutes of focused work followed by a five‑minute break—she completed tasks in minutes instead of hours. The simple timer eliminated mood‑driven delays, gave her evenings back, and turned time into a tangible cue. Her experience highlights how a low‑cost, analog tool can restructure workflow for remote professionals.