Francesco Cirillo had a problem.
He would try to study but constantly got distracted by his wandering thoughts. Even after something as short as 5 minutes, he found his mind wandering away from his studies.
He just couldn’t figure out how to get his work done.
Francesco fell into a trap that many of us have experienced. We get a few minutes into studying, then remember a text we need to respond to or a question we want to google. All of a sudden, we’ve completely forgotten about our work and jumped down a rabbit hole that has nothing to do with what we wanted to accomplish.
Is there a way to avoid this problem?
Luckily for us, Francesco devised a solution. He called it the “Pomodoro Technique,” named after the tomato-shaped timer he used and the Italian word for tomato. He used this method for all of his college studies, and since then, it’s been used by millions of people to get more work done 1.
In this article, I’ll show you how to use this famous method and why it works so well.
How to Use the Pomodoro Technique
- Prepare: Put away all potential distractions, like your phone, and make sure you’re in an environment where you can focus 2.
- Work: Set a timer for 25 minutes. Focus solely on your work for those 25 minutes.
- Break: Set the timer for 5 minutes and take a break.
- Repeat: When the break ends, set a new timer for 25 minutes and repeat the process.
- Break: After you’ve gone through four work sessions, take a longer break.
- Repeat: Repeat the process for as long as you need to get your work done.
The beauty of the Pomodoro Technique lies in its simplicity.
However, there’s a lot of science behind it, which we’ll talk about later.
Right now, let’s look at some common questions people have when they’re first introduced to this technique.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Adjust the Session Length?
The standard time for a Pomodoro session is 25 minutes, but if you’re struggling to focus for that long, you can shorten it to 20 or even 15 minutes 3.
If you’re working on something that takes more time, like writing an essay or solving a long set of math problems, you can try 30 or 45 minutes. The goal isn’t always to make the sessions longer. The goal is to find a length that helps you focus and make progress.
What Happens if My Session Gets Interrupted?
If your session is interrupted, take your 5-minute break immediately, then start a fresh work session.
Don’t beat yourself up about messing up the session. The best thing you can do is get back on track quickly.
What Should I Do During My Break?
The breaks in between work sessions are just as important as the work sessions themselves. A good break will refresh your mind and prepare you for more work.
I recommend taking a walk, stretching, doing pushups, or any physical activity that gets you away from your workstation 4.
Scrolling through social media or watching videos can make it harder to come back to your work. A good break should refresh your mind and not pull you into another distraction.
Why the Pomodoro Technique Works
The Pomodoro Technique works because it gives your brain a clear job to do.
Instead of sitting down and saying, “I need to study for the next four hours,” you only have to focus on one task for 25 minutes. That feels much more manageable.
It also gives you a clear stopping point. You’re not trying to focus forever. You’re just trying to make it to the end of the timer.
This is important because attention takes effort. Research on sustained attention shows that staying focused for long periods of time can become tiring, especially when the task is repetitive or mentally demanding 5.
That doesn’t mean everyone loses focus at exactly 25 minutes. Some people may need shorter sessions, and some people may be able to focus for longer. The 25-minute timer is just a good starting point.
The short breaks are important, too. A break gives your brain a chance to step away from the task and reset before the next work session. One study found that brief mental breaks can help people stay focused during longer tasks 6.
That’s why the Pomodoro Technique can be so helpful for studying. It gives you time to focus, but it also gives you time to rest before your mind starts wandering too far.
It’s also encouraging!
You don’t have to feel bad when you get distracted. Everyone gets distracted. The Pomodoro Technique simply gives you a system for noticing distractions, waiting them out, and getting back to work.
Another reason the Pomodoro Technique works is that it breaks big assignments into smaller pieces. Studying for a huge test can feel overwhelming. Studying for 25 minutes doesn’t feel nearly as bad.
You don’t have to finish everything at once. You just have to finish the next 25-minute block. That small shift can make it much easier to start.
Turn Pomodoro Into an Active Study Session
The Pomodoro Technique works best when you know exactly what you’re going to do during each study session.
“Study for my test” is too vague.
“Answer 15 practice questions” is much better.
Before you start the timer, choose one specific task. This helps you stay focused and makes it easier to know whether the session was actually useful.
Here are a few good Pomodoro tasks for test prep:
- Answer a small set of practice questions.
- Review every question you missed.
- Read one short section of your study guide.
- Make flashcards for one topic.
- Review flashcards you missed earlier.
- Write a quick summary of what you just studied.
- Explain a concept out loud without looking at your notes.
That last part is important. The best study sessions usually make you do something with the information.
Rereading your notes can feel productive, but it’s not always the best way to remember something. Research on study strategies has found that practice testing and spreading study sessions out over time are two of the most useful ways to learn 7.
That’s what makes the Pomodoro Technique so useful for test prep! It gives you a simple way to turn a big study goal into smaller, active study sessions.
Now, let’s look at a few tools that were inspired by Francesco Cirillo and his tomato timer.
Pomodoro Tools
Any Timer
When listing tools for the Pomodoro technique, it’s important to point out that literally any timer is all you need. Your phone will get the job done without any bells and whistles.
PomoFocus
Sometimes bells and whistles are fun, which is why many people have built Pomodoro timer websites. This is just one example, but you can find many similar options by googling “Pomodoro timer.”
These sites make it easier to switch between sessions and breaks. Some will track your progress, manage your to-do list, or give you cool statistics. With so many options, you’re bound to find one that has what you want and fits your aesthetic.
The Forest App
The Forest app gamifies the Pomodoro Technique by planting a virtual tree every time you complete a Pomodoro session.
You collect the trees in your forest and earn coins to buy new types of trees. If you exit the app while the timer is running, your tree dies. This mechanic is a great motivator.
You don’t want to have a forest full of dead trees!
Session
Session is available on Mac and iOS. It makes this list because of its unique blocking feature. Session allows you to block apps and websites whenever your timer is active, making it a great way to reinforce your focus.
The blocking feature does cost $4.99 a month, so this is only for the most dedicated Pomodoro users.
