--- title: What Could You Accomplish in 20 Minutes? description: Heather Gillespie shares how the Pomodoro Technique can help you accomplish your to-do list faster. image: https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hubfs/Foreword_Online/2023%20FO%20art/What-Could-You-Accomplish-in-20-Minutes_FO-header_Proof-v2_240105.jpg --- - [Home](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com) - [View All Posts](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/all) - [Visit mbsbooks.com](https://www.mbsbooks.com/) [![MBS Foreword](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foreword_Online/logos/fo-logo-whiteblue-400x87-nj-26080601.png?width=400&name=fo-logo-whiteblue-400x87-nj-26080601.png "MBS Foreword")](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com) # Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers # What Could You Accomplish in 20 Minutes? Posted by Guest Contributor on 1/8/24, 7:30 AM Topics: [college store growth opportunity](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/college-store-growth-opportunity), [college store management](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/college-store-management), [College store solutions](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/college-store-solutions) Our days are filled with interruptions. Whether it’s someone dropping by your office, a recent social media craze, or the squeaky toy the cat found under the couch (or is that just my office?), there is always things trying to pull our focus away from what we are trying to accomplish. ![What could you accomplish in 20 minutes?](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foreword_Online/2023%20FO%20art/What-Could-You-Accomplish-in-20-Minutes_FO-header_Proof-v2_240105.jpg?width=1200&height=627&name=What-Could-You-Accomplish-in-20-Minutes_FO-header_Proof-v2_240105.jpg) What needs to be done can often be divided into two categories: the things you have to get done and things you should do. Often, it is hard to get to the *shoulds*. Maybe, setting up an hour-long training session with your system provider is a challenge with your day-to-day schedule. Or, maybe you have trouble concentrating on anything for an entire hour. *But what could you accomplish in 20 minutes?* Twenty minutes isn’t a lot of time, but you might be surprised what you could check off your to-do list. This is where the[Pomodoro Technique](https://science.nichd.nih.gov/confluence/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=160956640) can help you. The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francisco Cirillo in the late 1980s. To put simply, you use a timer to break work into smaller more manageable intervals — typically 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. Personally, I prefer using a 20-minute timer because 25 minutes is too close to 30 minutes, which feels like a long time. Try setting a timer for 20 minutes and focus on one specific task. When the timer goes off, stand up. Take a moment to check in on things or just take a moment before you start your next task. If you get interrupted during those 20 minutes, address it then start a new 20-minute timer. If you finish your specific task before the time is up, use that time to start another task or read an industry-related article. The goal is to completely focus for these 20-minute intervals. This concept is a proven technique to help break down complex tasks, stop avoiding certain items on your to-do list, and combat distractions. It is about consistency and not perfection. This technique can help improve your productivity, while still allowing for short attention spans and encouraging short breaks between tasks. Here are a few ideas for how to spend 20 minutes: - Read or come back to an article (or two) from Foreword Online. You might want to read about ways to [entice alumni to shop in your college store](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/entice-alumni-to-shop-with-your-store-this-holiday-season#gsc.tab=0), look at what [MBS’ rental options](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/spring-2024-rental-submissions-are-now-open#gsc.tab=0) could bring to your store, or explore how your store can offer students more [low-cost course material options](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/give-students-more-low-cost-options-next-term#gsc.tab=0). - Submit your course material list to MBS for a [guaranteed buyback quote](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/offer-students-guaranteed-buyback-this-fall#gsc.tab=0). - Peruse another store’s eCommerce site and make notes of what you like, what works well and also what you don’t like. This will help give you ideas how you can [redesign your eCommerce site](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/commodore-books-more-dreams-big-with-website-redesign#gsc.tab=0). Also, it doesn’t have to be a college store. - Email [faculty adoption reminders](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/three-reminders-to-share-with-faculty-about-textbook-adoptions#gsc.tab=0). - Grab coffee with a member of the faculty, a student worker, or a dean of department you would like to build a stronger professional relationship with. - Double-check who in your store and on your campus is set to receive emails from your system provider. Make any necessary changes. - Collect and record the serial numbers & models of all your register hardware. - Set up a short training session or watch a Tidbit Tuesday recording to refresh your memory on how to do an upcoming seasonal task. Will you give it a try? The timer starts…now!   [![Find out how MBS can help you reduce overhead, save students money and streamline operations with a tailored retail management system. Learn More](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/445231/761c4d6e-23c6-48ac-b3c4-5943d5e54375.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/445231/761c4d6e-23c6-48ac-b3c4-5943d5e54375)   Share: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fforeword.mbsbooks.com%2Fwhat-could-you-accomplish-in-20-minutes) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforeword.mbsbooks.com%2Fwhat-could-you-accomplish-in-20-minutes) [𝕏 X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=What%20Could%20You%20Accomplish%20in%2020%20Minutes%3F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fforeword.mbsbooks.com%2Fwhat-could-you-accomplish-in-20-minutes) [Email](mailto:?subject=What%20Could%20You%20Accomplish%20in%2020%20Minutes%3F&body=I%20thought%20you%20might%20be%20interested%20in%20this%20article%3A%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fforeword.mbsbooks.com%2Fwhat-could-you-accomplish-in-20-minutes) #### Related articles on MBS Foreword [![4 College Store System Upgrades to Consider](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hubfs/Foreword_Online/2023%20FO%20art/4-College-Store-System-Upgrades-to-Consider_FO-Header_Proof-v1_230913.jpg)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/4-college-store-system-upgrades-to-consider) [4 College Store System Upgrades to Consider](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/4-college-store-system-upgrades-to-consider) [![University of Minnesota Duluth Stores Benefit From Outstanding Service and Reliable Functionality](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hubfs/Foreword_Online/2023%20FO%20art/umd-service-fo-header-230721-1.jpg)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/university-of-minnesota-duluth-stores-benefit-from-outstanding-service-and-reliable-functionality) [University of Minnesota Duluth Stores Benefit From Outstanding Service and Reliable Functionality](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/university-of-minnesota-duluth-stores-benefit-from-outstanding-service-and-reliable-functionality) #### Article comments ### Subscribe for updates ### Share your experience [Contact our editorial team](mailto:mktgserv@mbsbooks.com?Subject=Foreword) to set up an interview or to contribute a guest post. ### Most popular posts ### Most popular topics - [college bookstore industry trends (60)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/college-bookstore-industry-trends) - [campus bookstore marketing (29)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/campus-bookstore-marketing) - [wholesale textbook ordering (28)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/wholesale-textbook-ordering) - [textbook industry trends (27)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/textbook-industry-trends) - [college bookstore system (24)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/college-bookstore-system) #### Contact MBS **Customer Service** 800-325-0530 cserv@mbsbooks.com **Order Processing** 800-325-0577 [![Go to mbsbooks.com](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foreword_Online/logos/fo-mbs-logo-footer-240116-1.png?width=103&name=fo-mbs-logo-footer-240116-1.png "Go to mbsbooks.com")](http://www.mbsbooks.com/) #### Stay Connected With Us As MBS’ signature publication, Foreword is dedicated to offering daily industry insight and cutting-edge news that keep college retailers ahead of the curve. Follow us on social media. Contact us with ideas and feedback. Subscribe for regular updates. [![icon_LinkedIn](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foreword_Online/logos/fo-icon-linkedin-240116-1.png?width=42&name=fo-icon-linkedin-240116-1.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbs-textbook-exchange) [![icon_Twitter](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foreword_Online/logos/fo-icon-x-240116-1.png?width=42&name=fo-icon-x-240116-1.png)](https://twitter.com/mbstextbook) [![icon_Vimeo](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foreword_Online/logos/fo-icon-vimeo-240116-1.png?width=42&name=fo-icon-vimeo-240116-1.png)](https://vimeo.com/mbstextbook) [![icon_Instagram](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foreword_Online/logos/fo-icon-instagram-240116-1.png?width=42&name=fo-icon-instagram-240116-1.png)](https://www.instagram.com/mbstextbooks/) © 2026 MBS. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://www.mbsbooks.com/disclaimer/privacy-policy.php) | [CA Privacy Policy](https://www.mbsbooks.com/disclaimer/privacy-policy.php#ca) | [Terms of Service](https://www.mbsbooks.com/disclaimer/tos.php)