By now I am pretty sure you’ve heard about the Pomodoro technique. I guess it is one of the most well-known time management tools out there. But, have you actually tried it before, or do you think it’s utter bulls and not worth your time?
Let me convince you to give it a try anyways…
Still not working for you by the end of this post? Try one of the other time management techniques mentioned below.
In a moment we’ll dive into how the Pomodoro technique works. But first, let’s take a look at how it came to be:
1. Who invented the Pomodoro Technique?
The Pomodoro technique is one of the most famous time management tools invented by the Italian Francesco Cirillo. Cirillo invented the Pomodoro technique as a student to work more efficiently. I guess he didn’t struggle with all-nighters before exams…
Currently, he has a consulting firm in Berlin called Cirillo Consulting. You can read more about his original idea in the book “The Pomodoro Technique”
2. Why is it called the Pomodoro Technique?
Do you remember the tomato-shaped kitchen timers? I think every household in Germany had a kitchen timer (before smartphones came) often in the shape of a tomato. Pomodoro is the Italian word for tomato. Cirillo originally used a kitchen timer to take track of his 25/5.
At that time we had an onion-shaped one…
3. What are the 5 steps in the Pomodoro Technique?
Now that we know how it came to be, let’s take a look at how it works:
Step 1. Chose and formulate the task you want to accomplish.
Create a to-do list for the day. Prioritize your tasks and start with the most impactful ones. This free Pomodoro Printable sheet can help you plan your session:
Step 2. Set the timer for 25 minutes.
In the original Pomodoro Method, a set consisted of 25 minutes of hyperfocus work and a 3 to 5-minute break. IF your 25 minutes get interrupted that Pomodoro is void and you need to start again. Once the timer is over you MUST take the break. Nowadays there are many different variations like 50/10 45/15 or 60/25. What is your experience with the Pomodoro Method? What works best for you?
Step 3. Work on the task.
Next, you work on the task without any interruptions. The interruptions can be internal or external. Observe your interruptions and minimize them.
Step 4. Take a short break.
How long should a Pomodoro break be? The original method called for a short break after 25 minutes of 5 minutes. After 4 pomodoros take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.
Step 5. Repeat Steps 2-4 until you’ve accomplished your tasks.
4. Why is a Pomodoro 25 minutes long?
- It’s short enough to not trigger procrastination. (Read more Anti-Procrastination hacks here and here)
- 25 Minutes are long enough to focus.
- A set of 2 promodors is exactly 1 hour long so it’s a great measurement tool. ( I finished a task in X promodoros, next time I’ll need X promodoros)
- It creates a sense of urgency.
- 5-minute breaks aren’t long enough to get distracted.
- You can adapt the time to your personal needs.
5. What do you do in a 5-minute Pomodoro break?
It’s important that you don’t do anything brain taxing and that you do something that actually lets you rest. Here are our best recommendations for you:
In the short breaks:
- Walk around.
- Drink a cup of water.
- Do some stretches.
- Quick clean your home.
- Jumping Jacks.
- Do eye exercises.
- Breathing exercises.
- Get some fresh air on your balcony or ventilate the room.
During the long breaks:
- Meditate
- Do yoga
- Snack on sth healthy.
- Take a walk.
- Listen to music.
- Draw.
6. Is the Pomodoro method effective for working and studying? Let’s see what Redditor’s have to say:
We found both pros and cons for the method. Here are some recommendations how to personalize the technique:
7. Tips on how to use the Pomodoro Technique:
To sum it up the Pomodoro Technique is a simple Time Management tool to increase your productivity. Timewise it can also be adapted to your personal needs. It probably won’t work for all tasks, but it’s great when you need to start on a daunting task. Check out our post on: 6 Best Offline and Online Pomodoro Trackers to get started 🙂 Or use the 8 Best YouTube Pomodoro Timers instead!
What to do if the Pomodoro Technique doesn’t work for you? Let’s take a look at what other techniques like Pomodoro exist?
- You can use the Flowtime Technique
- Another Method is Timeboxing.
- The Action Priority Matrix.
- The GTD Method
- Joining the 5 AM Club- A Self Experiment
- Simple Steps to Overcome Procrastination
- The 14 Day Digital Detox Challenge
