Why Use The Pomodoro Technique?

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management technique which consists of breaking down your work sessions into 25-minute intervals. The simple act of timing yourself will automatically increase your level of focus and make you work faster.

This technique was invented by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s. While he was a student, Cirillo used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer to stay focused. If you know some basic Italian, you might be able to guess why he gave the technique this particular name...

The Pomodoro Technique is one of the most famous and easy to apply time management and concentration techniques out there. If you're not using it already, I would strongly encourage you to join this trend.

The quest of becoming a highly productive person is often viewed as something you're in for the long haul. It's a long process where you need to develop habits and change your mindset. But luckily, there are a few shortcuts that will enable you to instantly become more productive without any more effort. The Pomodoro Technique is one of them. No wonder why it's so popular.

The Pomodoro Technique is one of those super easy techniques that automatically and effortlessly makes you more productive. The only thing you have to do is to decide on a task you want to get done, turn on a timer and follow it religiously. The rest will take care of itself. It's the most effortless way of getting things done.

In this short article, I'm going to tell you exactly how to get started using it.

Why it works

Our best scientific estimates suggest that the brain can only stay consistently focused on a single task for a maximum of 25 minutes before it needs some rest.

The Pomodoro Technique takes advantage of these scientific discoveries. With the Pomodoro Technique, you will maximise the productivity output that your brain is capable of.

Because the time intervals are based on how your brain works, it makes sure you get the necessary breaks your brain needs. It also makes sure you don't get too many breaks or too long breaks. If you don't use this technique, it's too easy to work in a casual, half-concentrated state where you're not fully focused and you're constantly distracted by things going on around you.

In this slightly laid-back state, you might take 5-minute breaks every 5 minutes, often without even noticing that you do. You will automatically be thinking: "I've got several hours to do this. That's ages! I'm not in a hurry." Naturally, when you feel like you've got ages to do something, you will also take ages doing it.

This is known as Parkinson's Law: "Work expands to fill the time allotted for it." In other words - the less time you give yourself to complete a task, the faster you will complete it. This is because you focus more when you've got less time to do something.

With the Pomodoro Technique, you will use Parkinson's Law to your advantage. Maybe Francesco knew this when he created the technique?

Here is something else which is really cool about the Pomodoro Technique. Some people hardly take any breaks at all. They work in a continuous streak. After 3-4 hours, they're exhausted. And then it can be pretty difficult to get back into a productive state. If you are one of these people, the Pomodoro Technique will prevent you from getting exhausted too early. If you take short, regular breaks, you give your brain the rest it needs. This means that you can keep working for longer. In this article, I've written more about why it's important to take breaks.

Some people don't take these short breaks because they feel they don't have the time. But if these short breaks will allow you to work for another 4 hours, a 5-minute break every 25 minutes seems like a pretty small investment of time.

I hope this has convinced you that this technique brings out the best in your brain's ability to focus.

Do you know what my favourite thing about the Pomodoro Technique is? If you use it consistently, you train yourself into naturally becoming more focused. If you are struggling with procrastination, the Pomodoro Technique is the perfect cure.

Now, let me explain how you can use this technique yourself.

How to use the Pomodoro Technique

In a nutshell, this is how the Pomodoro Technique works:

• Work on a task for 25 minutes
• Take a short 5-minute break
• Back to work for 25 minutes
• Another short 5-minute break

Do you get the idea? Of course you do.

Every work session is called a "pomodoro". After every 4th pomodoro session, take a longer break. 15-30 minutes is usually a good time. Your brain needs this extra time to rest before the next wave of pomodoros.

In your breaks, make sure you are doing something relaxing that is not related to work at all. This is how you will recharge your brain to get back to work. Most importantly: Get a change of scenery. Get up from your chair and spend your break in a different environment. This will help you feel more refreshed than if you just stayed in the same room during the break.

You don't want to use ANY energy or concentration to keep an eye on the time. Use a Pomodoro timer to do this for you. You can use a physical tomato-shaped kitchen timer like the one Francesco himself used. Or you can use a Pomodoro Timer app.

Personally, I use an app called Tide. There are plenty of others to choose from in your favourite app store. The main reason I like Tide is that it's elegant and pretty. And you know, pretty makes it fun!

If you want some more inspiration before choosing the perfect app for you, check out this list of the best Pomodoro apps by Alice Camilla from Keep Productive.

If you want to get some more in-depth information about the Pomodoro Technique, Francesco's own website are one of the best resources.