Pomodoro Technique: Effective Study Tool

Pomodoro technique is created by a university student, Francesco Cirillo, in the late 1980s. Pomodoro is a kitchen timer used to measure 25 minutes intervals. The first-timer is the name of the technique. It was shaped like a tomato.z

Benefits of the Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro technique aims to provide a simple tool for improving student productivity. With this technique, you are able to:

• Improve your focus and your consideration by eliminating interruptions.
• Reduce the fear over the “passing of time.”
• Increase awareness of your decision
• Increases motivation and maintains a constant level of motivation.
• Strengthen your resolve to continue to apply yourself to complex situations.
• Increase your resolve to achieve your goals.
• Improve the process of estimation, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
• Improve your process of study or work.

How can I use the Pomodoro technique?

1. Determine Your Study Time and Break Time

The standard Pomodoro is 30 minutes long: 25 minutes for the study and a 5-minute break. You may change work and break time.

A Pomodoro cannot be interrupted, split up. There is no such concept as half of a Pomodoro or a quarter of a Pomodoro. A Pomodoro is the atomic unit of time. If someone or something interrupts a Pomodoro, you should make a fresh start with a new Pomodoro.

2. Determine Your Goal

Determine your goal. For example, what are you going to do today? Then, make a study plan, make a to-do today sheet as given below.

3. Have a Short Break After Each Pomodoro

When the Pomodoro rings, mark an X next to the activity you’ve been working on. And take a 5 minutes break. Do not continue studying, even though you can finish within a few minutes.  Show your best respect to timing. If you do not respect it when it says “time to stop,” you are less likely to respect it when it says “time to study.”

This five-minute break time gives you the time you need to disconnect from your work.  During break time, your mind assimilates what you learned in the last 25 minutes. Stand up, drink plenty of water, and walk around the room. You can do some deep breathing or stretching exercises.

During 5 minutes break, try to avoid distractions to maintain your ability to focus when you get back to your work. Don’t write important emails or make imperative phone calls etc. Doing such things would block the constructive mental integration that you need to feel alert and ready for the next Pomodoro.

4. Have a Long Break After Four Pomodoro

Once the break is over, start for the next Pomodoro. After four Pomodoro, stop the activity you’re studying on and take a more extended break. Thirty minutes break, for example.

During 30 minutes break, you may have a quick walk, listen to music, check your emails, do breathing exercises, or simply rest. Try to avoid anything complicated. Otherwise, your mind won’t be able to reorganize and integrate what you have learned. As a result, you won’t be able to be ready for the next Pomodoro.

5. Cross out the task on the to-do today sheet

Continue your study, Pomodoro, after Pomodoro, until the task is finished, and then cross it out on the to-do today sheet (study solution process). If you complete the task while the Pomodoro is still ticking, don’t stop Pomodoro; revise, write a summary. Once Pomodoro begins, it must ring. (rule 3).

6. Eliminate Interruptions

Whatever work you do, interruptions are a serious problem, causes procrastination.  You need an effective strategy for minimizing these interruptions. One of the most significant benefits of the Pomodoro method is to help us how to handle distractions. Interruptions can be classified as internal interruptions and external interruptions.

a. Internal Interruptions

Internal interruptions are like something to eat or drink, check email and messages, call somebody, order pizza, shopping, FOR EXAMPLE. We can’t neglect these interruptions. We can schedule them. Write down the new activity today to do sheet under unplanned & urgent activities, as shown below. Unplanned activities will be done during a longer break, or you can delay for another day.

b. External Interruptions

Human is a social species. Interruptions are inevitable. Your friends ask you to explain a paragraph or a question, your daughter asks you to play with you, messages come all the time, your friend asked you to go somewhere, and so on. You may have 5 to 10 external interruptions during a single Pomodoro.  Protect your Pomodoro; inform people effectively, negotiate quickly to reschedule the interruption, and callback the person who interrupted you as agreed. The inform, negotiate, and callback strategy enables you to control external interruptions.

If a Pomodoro has to be interrupted, Either due to human weakness, or a real Emergency, there is only one thing to do. Void the Pomodoro with a dash in your checkbox (even though it’s just about to ring). The next Pomodoro will go better.

Rules

1. Each Pomodoro consists of 25 minutes plus a five-minute break.
2. After Every Four Pomodoros, have a 25 minutes break.
3. The Pomodoro Is Indivisible A Pomodoro can’t be interrupted, split up. There are no half or quarter Pomodoro.
4. Protect the Pomodoro. If someone disturbs you, inform effectively, negotiate quickly to reschedule the interruption.
5. If activity Lasts More Than 5-7 Pomodoro, Break It Down. Complex operations can be classified into several activities.
6. If activity Lasts Less Than One Pomodoro, Add It Up. Simple activities can be joint.
7. Be positive. The next Pomodoro will be better.

References

1. Cirillo, F.: The Pomodoro Technique. XPLabs Technical Report version 1.3. English Version (Published June 15, 2007), http://www.tecnicadelpomodoro.it
2. Wadsworth, W. “Pomodoro Study Method: How to Really Use This Powerful Technique.” Exam Study Expert, (4 Nov 2019), https://examstudyexpert.com/pomodoro-method/