POMODORO: Learn How To Learn.

Tanisha Gupta
3 min readMay 3, 2021

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You know you need to work smart, but how?

Source: HDQwalls.com

It takes 15–20 minutes to establish focus and an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to the task post-distraction.”

Pomodoro Technique. This popular time-management method can help you eradicate distractions, concentrate, and get things done in short segments while taking frequent breaks to ease up and relax. It is a proven and effective technique that has helped people over the years.

What is Pomodoro?

Pomodoro is an Italian time management technique developed by Francesco Cirillo, a software developer in the late 1980s to enhance concentration and productivity. You work in small blocks of time with breaks of air, each interval is known as a Pomodoro, from the Italian word for ‘tomato’, after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used as a university student.

POMODORO is for you if…

Pomodoro timer
Pomodoro timer.
  • You are consistently working but lack optimal pace and productivity.
  • You are unable to “start” causing the work to pile up.
  • You are DONE making timetables that you fail to follow.
  • You leave tasks midway yet to be completed cuz you only speak in deadlines.

How does Pomodoro work?

Pomodoro Technique
  1. Choose a task to be completed.
  2. Estimate how many pomodoros (intervals) you will need to complete it.
  3. Set the pomodoro timer (25 min, 1 hr, etc)
  4. Work on the task till the timer runs out.
  5. Mark off one pomodoro on a sheet of paper.
  6. Take a short break (less than 15 minutes).
  7. Repeat.
  8. After every 4 pomodoros, take an extended break (25–30 minutes).

Why 25 minutes? How is it effective?

It is recommended that you set a 25 min pomodoro at the beginning and then increasing the pomodoro size accordingly. Why? It reduces the workload into smaller units, just enough to get you motivated making it easy to start. 25 min pomodoros also create a sense of urgency and sets the mood to study and focus on the work at hand.

After a 25 min pomodoro, you can increase the working time as per your comfort with 1 hr pomodoros and 10 min breaks with a longer break of 30 - 40 min marking a 2–3 pomodoro cycle.

Apps and Extensions

Various free apps and extensions can help you set up your Pomodoro checklist and get you started straight away. Listing some of them below -

Focus-To-Do: Pomodoro timer and To-do list (Chrome extension and App)

Pomodoro Timer Lite (App)

Pomodoro Timer (App)

Engross (Android, IOS)

Do’s and Dont’s

Do’s

  • Dedicate the 5 minutes interval for relaxation rather than thinking of the next 25 minutes.
  • Combine small tasks like checking emails and making some phone calls in one Pomodoro.
  • Analyze and reconcile each day’s progress through your Pomodoro checklist to be aware of where you invest your time.

Dont’s

  • Don’t neglect the breaks as they are equally important for effective learning.
  • Don’t hesitate to improvise the Pomodoro intervals according to your pace.

Now you are all set and equipped to start working with no room for distraction and learnings :)

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Tanisha Gupta
Tanisha Gupta

Written by Tanisha Gupta

Wandering over the troughs and lows of Tech and Business.

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