Boost Your Productivity with the Pomodoro Technique
Do you ever feel like you’ve been sitting at your desk for hours but nothing seems to get done? We all have the best intentions when it comes down to studying, especially at the beginning of a new year. But, it can be harder to stay focused as summer break inches closer and closer. If your mind keeps wandering away from your homework, the Pomodoro Technique can help.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
The Pomodoro Technique is a simple time management tool that improves your focus and productivity. It is popular among students and professionals because it is simple yet very effective.
All you need is a timer. You can use your phone timer, an alarm clock, or a free Pomodoro website or app (such as Tomato Timer or Tomatos Timers). You can even use the classic tomato-shaped kitchen timer that the method was named after (pomodoro means “tomato” in Italian.)
You can use your phone, an alarm clock, or a free app to time your Pomodoros.
How Does the Pomodoro Technique Work?
Step 1. Decide on the task you have to complete.
Step 2. Set your timer for 25 minutes.
Step 3. Do as much work as you can until the timer rings.
Step 4. When the timer rings, stop. You just completed one Pomodoro!
Step 5. Enjoy a short 5 minute break. Then repeat step 1.
Step 6. After four Pomodoros, take a long 20 minute break to refresh.
The 25-5 interval is not a rule. Some students need to build up their stamina and start off with 20 minutes. Other students prefer bursts of 45 minutes of work with 15 minute breaks. The main point is to set specific time intervals for work and breaks.
How do I Apply the Pomodoro Technique to Schoolwork?
Pomodoros can help you track your daily tasks.
These sample schedules come from Francesco Cirillo, who originally popularized the Pomodoro method in his best-selling book The Pomodoro Technique. In this example, a writer named Mark Ross has to write an article called “How to Learn Music.” He creates a to-do list that breaks the assignment into three separate tasks: write the article, finetune it by reading it out loud, and condense it.
In this example, Mark marks an X for every Pomodoro spent on each task. This helps him keep track of his Pomodoros so that he can remember to take a longer break after his fourth session.
This tracking method also shows exactly how much time he needed for each task. When looking over his day, Mark will immediately learn that writing his article takes the most time. In fact, it requires the same amount of time as editing and condensing combined. This may help Mark plan his schedule in the future when he has to write other articles.
Finally, tracking Pomodoros will remind Mark of what he has accomplished over a full 5-hour workday. Imagine how motivating and organizing this can be for a high school student. Instead of a stressed-out feeling of “How is it already midnight? What did I do all day?” any student can review their record of work. By reminding students of their own efficacy, the Pomodoro Technique can motivate students with their own list of accomplishments.
The Pomodoro Technique actually has many benefits that go beyond helping with focus.
How Can the Pomodoro Technique Help Me?
The Pomodoro Technique offers so many benefits for students, but here are a few of the most important ways in can help you with your studies:
build focus
With this method, you block off clear chunks of time to focus only on a single task. The example writer Mark won’t get stuck in time editing his thesis sentence or jumping to work on something different. He just has to spend the next 25 minutes writing the first draft.
There will still be other distractions - an email or text from a friend, a craving for a snack, or a sudden need to procrastinate by cleaning your room. But, it is easier to ignore a distraction when there is a built-in break coming up and a timer counting down to it.
be more productive
It is easier to get through multiple short bursts of productivity instead of a vague “afternoon of homework” or “a couple of hours of studying.” After a session of Pomodoros, students will have a clear history of what they accomplished in the last few hours. It will feel great to have a list of to-do’s crossed out or recognize that you’ve completed major portions of a large project.
Pomodoros also build in breaks to avoid burnout and fatigue. Our brains need intervals of rest to operate at their peak.
get started
Sometimes students struggle to just get started on their homework. This can be procrastination that is driven by anxiety, overwhelm, and stress. A Pomodoro session helps by breaking work into discrete mini-steps. This can make the task feel less intimidating and therefore easier to start.
Time blocking (sometimes called “time chunking” or “time boxing”) also pairs well with procrastination-beating implementation intentions. Pomodoros help students prioritize tasks, get started, and stay on schedule.
build self-awareness
Most people have a hard time estimating exactly how long they will (or should) spend on any given task. Sometimes students vastly underestimate their own work habits and end up suffering (“I can totally do this entire research paper in two hours!”). Some students have the opposite problem and spend too much time perfecting every last detail (“I have to add my bibliography but let me spend an hour editing this one sentence…”).
Pomorodors build self-awareness about how long activities really take. This is critical knowledge that will help a student plan their studies for the rest of their school years and avoid last minute all-nighters.
practice mindfulness
During a Pomodoro session, students have to acknowledge distractions but get back to work until the timer rings. We wrote earlier that this builds focus but it is also is a way to practice mindfulness.
Being able to recognize passing feelings and thoughts is a foundational part of meditation. Scores of research have established that mindfulness builds productivity, lowers stress, boosts creativity, and supports mental health.
Additional Studying Resources
Looking for more study tips to help you succeed in school and life? Check out the following resources:
Looking for more homework help? Get help with your homework questions with an UPchieve tutor. Our tutors are completely free for low-income and Title 1 High School students, and available 24/7. And our virtual tutors will stay with you through as many Pomodoros as you need.