This method, developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s, consists of dividing your time into 25-minute chunks and keeping track of them using a kitchen timer.
The goal is to concentrate fully on a single task for 25 minutes.
According to the method’s founder, dividing up your time allows you to focus on one specific task to accomplish rather than on a whole, bigger project or goal.
Moreover, thanks to the timer, there’s no need to be constantly checking the time, thus losing focus.
In fact, it’s from the timer that this technique takes its name. In Italian, “pomodoro” means “tomato,” and refers to the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Francesco Cirillo used as a student.
How to use the Pomodoro Technique?
This technique consists of five simple steps.
- Choose the task to be achieved and define the time for its realisation, ideally between 20 and 30 minutes.
- Start the stopwatch, if possible, using a timer other than a cell phone.
- Work on the defined task during the allotted time.
- At the end of the session, take a five-minute break. However, don’t take advantage of this time to scroll through social networks or check your emails. Ideally, you should step outside quickly to get a real break from your work sessions.
- Finally, set yourself a new task and start the cycle again.
It is important that, for every four “pomodori” time chunks completed, you take a slightly longer break, of between 10 and 15 minutes.
This method can also be used by college students, high school students or children when doing their homework.