Pomodoro Technique

Muhammad Meesum
Nov 2 · 2 min read

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method. The technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. These intervals are named pomodoros, the plural in English of the Italian word pomodoro (tomato), after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used as a university student.

There are six steps in the technique:

1. Decide on the task to be done.

2. Set the pomodoro timer (traditionally to 25 minutes).

3. Work on the task until the timer rings.

4. After the timer rings put a check-mark on a piece of paper.

5. If you have fewer than four checkmarks, take a short break (3–5 minutes), then go to step 2.

6. After four pomodoros, take a longer break (15–30 minutes), reset your check-mark count to zero, then go to step 1.

We all know it our brains don’t multitask well. You can’t focus on a task and have a podcast playing on the background, or trying to find the solution to a problem and having.

The Pomodoro Technique is often championed by developers, designers and other people who have to turn out regular packages of creative work. Essentially, people who have to actually produce something to be reviewed by others. That means everyone from authors writing their next book to software engineers working on the next big video game can all benefit from the timed work sessions and breaks that Pomodoro offers.

Time your breaks too

You can easily get carried away when you don’t time your breaks. That’s why it’s equally important to time them. As mentioned if at first you think that 3–5 minutes are not enough, try to increase the time period to 7 or 10 but a) it should be a fixed period and b) it should be on the timer.

Start small

Instead try smaller intervals of as low as 10 or even 5 minutes and work your way up to the 20–25 minute mark. The same is true for the breaks. If 3 minutes sound too little start with 5 or 7 or even 10 and work your way down. Check which combination works best for you and then try to improve it slowly.

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