Pomodoro Study Technique

Introduction 

We all allocate time to study but how effective are we in the given period of time? Good time management is the secret to boosting productivity during study sessions. So, here is another study technique that you can tinker with to help you during the examination session. Let’s welcome – the Pomodoro technique. 

What is the Pomodoro Technique?

This is a simple workflow you follow to avoid distractions. The only principle in the Pomodoro technique is that you have no distractions in your study sessions. Now, let’s break down the Pomodoro technique step by step.

• Select the task you intend to finish 
• Set the timer to 25 minutes (start of a Pomodoro cycle)
• Work until the timer rings (end of a Pomodoro cycle)
• Take a quick 5-minute break 
• For every four Pomodoro cycles, take a longer break (15 – 25 minutes)

Now that you understand what the Pomodoro technique is, the natural follow up question is – ‘Why does the Pomodoro Technique work?’

Why does the Pomodoro Technique work?

The unique selling point of the Pomodoro technique is that it is designed to avoid distractions. Moreover, you become more aware of how you are investing your time. This helps you stay productive during your study sessions. 

The recurring pattern of work followed by a break helps you stay motivated for the task at hand. Additionally, this technique helps you combat procrastination. It forces you to stay productive in the time you spend. Hence, your productivity remains high during the time you decide to spend on the task. 

Whom does this suit best?

Not every study technique is compatible with your ongoing study regiment. However, you should definitely try this out if you 

• Find it hard to finish the tasks you’ve set for yourself in a day 
• Are easily distracted 
• Feel demotivated midway through your work

Resources you can use to implement this technique 

A few books on the Pomodoro Technique – 

• The Pomodoro Technique: The Life-Changing Time by Francesco Cirillo
• Pomodoro Technique Illustrated: The Easy Way to Do More in Less Time by Staffan Noteberg

You can always utilize the timer on your phone to start experimenting with this technique. To keep a track of your Pomodoro sessions, you can use a productivity tool such as Notion. However, there are full-fledged apps that do this for you. Here are some –

• Pomofocus.io is a web application that has the fundamentals of a Pomodoro Timer in it. It’s free to start using and is perfect if you want to test this method out. 
• MarianaraTimer is also a web application that allows you to customize the timing of the break periods. 
• Youtube – Some videos on YouTube have the format of a Pomodoro set out for you. This is great if you want to experiment with this technique. 

You also have good apps on your mobile phones too. They are just a search away.

Conclusion 

As usual, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to optimizing your study schedule. Experiment with this technique and figure out if this is something you would like to add to your study regimen. If you like this blog, you might find a few of my other blogs interesting as well.

• Retrospective Timetable – An effective way to plan out your study sessions
• The Science behind Studying – An evidence-based exploration into the question – ‘What is the best way to study?’