Having trouble getting work done? The Pomodoro Technique can help

Looking for ways to boost your productivity and reduce procrastination? Consider using the Pomodoro Technique. The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that can improve your mental focus while working and your confidence in your ability to perform.

The technique alternates effective work sessions with restorative breaks. Learning this technique can change your work-life balance, especially if you work from home.

Read on to learn about how the Pomodoro Technique works, how it benefits people, and what digital tools you can use to supplement it.

What’s all the fuss about the Pomodoro Technique?

You can thank the stresses of college life for the Pomodoro Technique. As a university student in the late 80s, author Francesco Cirillo was struggling with procrastination and looking for ways to improve his focus. 

He found success working in 10 minutes increments using a tomato-shaped kitchen timer. Cirillo dubbed this method the Pomodoro Technique, after the Italian word for “tomato.”

Cirillo went on to write a book on the merits of his technique. His company claims the Pomodoro Technique is now one of the most popular time management techniques, used by millions to more effectively focus on work and study.

The Pomodoro Technique may be helpful when …

• You get easily thrown off your game by everyday distractions
• You frequently take on large projects that can feel overwhelming
• You’re looking for ways to improve your focus when working from home
• You often feel like “there aren’t enough hours in the day” get things done
• You need help with open-ended work such as studying for an extended period

How to follow the Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is easy to master due to its simple structure. 

To begin, decide on a task to tackle. Set a timer for 25 minutes and begin working. When the timer stops, stop and record one “pomodoro” completed, along with your progress. 

Take a five-minute break. Then, reset the timer and resume your task. 

After four repetitions, take a 15-30 minute break to recharge.

The technique’s efficacy depends on following three additional rules:

• Break down complicated tasks
• Combine small tasks
• Don’t pause a pomodoro once you’ve started it

Following these rules prevents “cheating”, i.e. undermining the core principle of working effectively in short bursts.

Why does the pomodoro technique work?

The Pomodoro Technique is effective because it removes mental blocks to undertaking projects. Research suggests many people procrastinate because of low self-efficacy, or confidence in their own ability to perform, making them overly-anxious about initiating large tasks. 

Like other time management strategies, the Pomodoro Technique breaks large projects into manageable blocks.

 Additionally, the technique clarifies the amount of time you really need to complete tasks and recharge. You can easily lose track of time when goofing off, and the Pomodoro Technique allows you to measure progress over set intervals.

Tips to get the most out of each pomodoro interval

Break down large tasks into smaller ones

Think about the sequence of actions you will need to take to complete more complicated tasks, and how much time they will separately take. Divide the complex task into smaller tasks and then work through them one-by-one. This way, you will not feel as overwhelmed.

Group smaller or similar tasks together

Smaller or related tasks can be combined so that you can get more done in less time. If you dedicate a whole pomodoro to one small task, you may feel tempted to drag your feet completing that one task. Bunching small tasks together prevents you from feeling this temptation.

Don’t succumb to checking your email, Slack, etc.

Once the pomodoro is set, you cannot pause it. This means no distracting yourself with mundane things like checking your email, Slack, or social media accounts. These distractions will interrupt your flow. Set a boundary by sticking by this rule, because otherwise you can get derailed quickly.

Plan out your pomodoros in advance

Decide what you’re going to try to accomplish for each pomodoro. This makes it easier to stay organized and on track. If you set a pomodoro without knowing what you’re going to do first, you can end up wasting that time just figuring out how to approach the task.

Try out different interval and break lengths

Twenty-five-minute work sprints and five-minute breaks are not necessarily a one-size-fits-all solution. If you feel like you can only work intensively for 15 minutes, then try that interval length. You may need to tweak the exact timings to fit your unique needs, especially if you have ADHD.

Use an app, rather than manually timing

You can use productivity apps to set timers for work sprints and breaks automatically. This streamlines the process by taking it out of your control. If you don’t need to waste time manually setting timers, you can devote more effort to getting tasks accomplished without work and break time overlapping. 

Pomodoro apps and websites to try: Our picks