EILEEN ADLER

The Pomodoro Technique is a strategy for writers, but I started thinking that this might work for setting aside time for care partners. You will need a minute timer for this.

This is what you do:

1. Make a list of things you need to do.
2. Break the tasks up, or group them together, into ones you can do in twenty-five minutes.
3. Set your timer to twenty-five minutes.
4. Do the task. The timer ticks away, reminding you to stay focused.
5. When the twenty-five minutes of the session are up, the timer rings.
6. Mark the task complete, or if you didn’t finish it, adjust the plan.
7. Now you can have a break for five minutes to stretch, make a cup of tea, etc.
8. No plan is perfect and there probably will be some interruptions, but the point is to stay focused to the task at hand. Apart from life-threatening emergencies, there’s nothing that can’t wait twenty-five minutes.

But you may respond, I don’t have twenty-five minutes!!!! Set aside an amount of time that will work with your schedule. Did you get something done? Then you have achieved your goal and it counts. At the end of the daily session, review what you achieved and note the good feeling you get.
 

On your five-minute break, prepare Easy Three-Ingredient Tomato Soup

PREP 5 mins       COOK 40 mins       TOTAL 45 mins

Makes four generous servings

YOU WILL NEED

• Four tablespoons unsalted butter (for a vegan option, use olive oil or coconut oil)
• One-half large onion, cut into large wedges
• 1 (28-ounce) canned tomatoes
• 1 and 1/2 cups water or low sodium stock of your choice.
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, or more to taste
• Optional – fresh basil or pesto, croutons, grated cheese

 DIRECTIONS

• Melt butter or oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven or large saucepan.
• Add onion wedges, water, can of tomatoes with their juices, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
• Bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for about 40 minutes. Stir occasionally and add additional salt as needed.
• Blend the soup with an immersion blender, and then season to taste. The soup doesn’t need to be ultra-smooth; some texture is a nice touch.  

Tomato Soup Recipe
 

P.S.: for those of you who know me, you know that I don't like to cook. This is me after watching the food network. YUM! My favorite lunch!