CherryTomato

The Internet is filled with all sort of distractions that could keep you from your work or the things that you were intending to do. However, it also comes with some applications that could help motivate you in getting things done.

One of such programs is CherryTomato. It lets you set a timer of short work sessions so that you wouldn't get distracted.

The application doesn't take long to install and it doesn't come with a complicated setup that you would need to complete before you can check out all of its features.

It's packed with lots if nice tools and features that you can use, together with a nice and intuitive layout with plenty of options at hand. CherryTomato uses the Pomodoro technique that teaches you to work with time, instead of struggling against it.

It's a time management method uses a timer to break down work into intervals traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. The method is based on the idea that frequent breaks can improve mental agility.

Closely related to concepts such as timeboxing and iterative and incremental development used in software design, the method has been adopted in pair programming contexts. CherryTomato application runs in the background and you can access its features by right-clicking on the icon in the system tray.

There's the option to enable the rewind, ticking and ring sounds, but make sure to set the volume level to medium, as it can get quite annoying. The application can connect to some messenger programs and automatically set your status to busy so that no one would bother you while working.

You can set reminders, a timer and notifications for things that you don't want to forget. You can also have the application stay on top of other windows and automatically start when your system launches.

CherryTomato is a very nice application for managing your time and making sure you stay focused while working.