Sue’s Focus Travels
LQ: 7.95
Recommended Age: 4+
Skills Used: Focus, Time Management, Mathematics, Writing
Focus Tomato is a focus timer app that uses witty images and sounds to help the user track their time spent on certain activities and to track their progress over time. The app uses the Pomodoro Method, which is a way of focusing for a set amount of time (usually 20 minutes) with a short break in between each focus session (usually five minutes.) When the four focusing sessions are complete, the user takes a longer break (usually 25-30 minutes) and then can begin the process over again. To start, the user opens the app and selects the amount of time that they would like to focus for by clicking on the stopwatch button on the screen. They then simply click on the “Start” button and Focus Tomato will keep track of their focus time. The user can also tag each focus session by clicking in the upper left hand corner and writing down what they are focusing on at the moment. At the end of each chunk of focused time, the user can choose to take a break and then get back to work.
The user can also keep track how long they have focused and how long they have taken breaks throughout the day. If the user does not have their phone with them, they can also go into the app later and manually add their time and a description of the activity and how it went. For people who purchase the app, productivity statistics can also be tracked.
The user can also choose from a variety of ambient noises to play during their focusing session. These sounds range from rainfall to library to cafe. This way the user can choose what type of ambient white noise works best for them while they are working.
Focus Tomato is available for free on iOS but in-app purchases may be required to unlock certain features.
Time Management: Being efficient and aware of our use of time and effort.
For users who focus on making the most of their time, a focus app like Focus Tomato can be a great tool to help learn better time management skills. The user picks a goal and an amount of time to focus and then simply starts the timer. The app will then let them know when they can take a break and when they have completed their four sessions of focusing. And because the app features a statistics tracker, the user can see how they have managed to focus over the course of time to see the patterns in what is working well and what needs to potentially change.
Focus: Getting started and then maintaining attention and effort to tasks.
For users who struggle with staying on task or frequently find themselves moving from one project to another but not completing anything, focus timers like Focus Tomato are great for building up this skill. The user can start by setting the focusing cycles for a short amount of time, even 10 minutes. The user can also choose whatever ambient sounds they want and decide what type of noise works best for them while they are trying to focus. By taking short breaks in between cycles and then a longer one at the end of the four cycles, the user learns to spend the most of their time during the focusing parts of the Pomodoro method. The user can then build up to longer amounts of time where they focus.
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