Pomodoro Technique

It can be hard to get going on a task. The Pomodoro Technique is a popular strategy used by millions (according to the Pomodoro Technique website) to counteract procrastination and boost motivation and productivity. It’s particularly useful because the general concept can be adapted to fit your needs and work style.  

A “pomodoro” is an interval of dedicated time spent on a specific task. It’s a short sprint that helps you make progress in a way that feels manageable but also allows you to tune your focus to a single task.

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Pomodoro timer

How to Use the Pomodoro Technique

25 min work - 5 min break - repeat 4x - 20-30 min break

  1. Decide what you need to work on. If it’s a big project, pick a small chunk to make progress on.   

  1. Set a timer for 25 minutes.  

  1. Get to work! You’ve got 25 minutes to push on that task and get done as much as you can. Lean into the intensity of that short burst of work time.   

  1. Fight off distractions. Keep at your task for the entire 25 minutes. If a distraction pops up you write it down and get back to the task at hand.   

  1. Note the accomplishment. When the timer goes off, make a mark on a paper - a check, a star, a whirl, a picture of a tomato - whatever you'd like to use to denote that you've completed a time segment.   

  1. Take a quick break (3-5 minutes). Then go back to the first step and start over.  

  1. After four cycles, take a long break (20-30 minutes)

For more information, visit the Pomodoro Technique website or Pomodoro Wikipedia webpage.

The Pomodoro Technique has a lot of room for variation. You can set time blocks for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, or 20 minutes if you will have any easier time with those shorter blocks. Longer blocks (30, 60, 90 minutes) are not recommended as you’re likely to get distracted or need a break. The goal is to really focus and push work forward during that time – it’s a more intense study period, so you don’t want to try to sustain it without a break. Think of it as a sprint, not a marathon.

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Student sitting at a desk with laptop, notebook, mug, books, and phone.
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Student writing a to-do list

Elevate Your Pomodoro-ing 

  • Plan ahead. Maximize your use of this technique with some pre-planning and prioritization. As you settle in to work, prioritize what is most important by looking at deadlines, thinking about what you want to accomplish, and breaking your work into several smaller segments. A to-do list is a way to organize those smaller tasks and track your progress.  

  • Get better at estimating. The Pomodoro Technique works best when you can effectively estimate what you can get done in 25 minutes – when there is a good match between what you were trying to get done and what you’re able to get done. Over time, work to improve your ability to estimate what you can do in 25 minutes. You'll find your work time more satisfying and productive!  

  • Be strategic about your breaks. When it’s time to break, take high quality breaks that take care of your mind and body. You just worked hard for 25 minutes – time to rest and rejuvenate. Taking breaks that allow you to move your body, drink water, eat a light snack, and rest your eyes from a screen or text will do more to rejuvenate you than scrolling social media on your phone.

The Pomodoro Technique has made a huge impact on the way I work and study. I use it to help me focus and make progress on tasks I'm less excited about. When I dwell too long on a task that I get sucked into, the Pomodoro Technique also helps me move on so I can work more efficiently.

-Anna

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Anna Bentley's portrait