There are many proven techniques for time management to help you improve productivity. Some involve assessing your workload, learning how to say “no” and then being intentional about what you say “yes” to. Removing electronic distractions (like Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, or group chats) while you’re working.
As a student, we will have times when the tasks laid before us seem mountainous. It may be several chapters of a textbook to read, or a paper to write. It may be a multi-step project or even just studying for a quiz or exam or other type of assessment. Regardless of what it is, we must get through it, in order to reach that goal of passing that assignment, that class, and even graduating!
As an academic and learning coach, there is one time-management method, in particular: the Pomodoro Technique®, that I want to share. The Pomodoro Technique® was invented in the early 1990s by Francesco Cirillo, a developer, and entrepreneur. The technique earned its catchy name in honor of the tomato-shaped timer Cirillo used to track his 25-minute intervals of focused work time.
Before applying the technique, you should already have your task analysis done, so you know what exactly it is you’re sitting down to work on. Not sure what task analysis is? Don’t worry, you can learn more about it in the blog entry or podcast by that name at www.integratedu.net. Bottom line is to know what you plan to work on. After that, the process is fairly simple and requires nothing more than a timer and following these six steps:
1. Decide which task you are working on.
2. Set a timer for 25 minutes.
3. Work until the timer “pings.” Make sure you mark or take note of where you left off.
4. Take a five-minute break — grab a glass of juice, stretch, go walk, or just look away.
5. Every four “pomodoros,” or 25-minute intervals, take a longer break — closer to 15-20 minutes.
6. Marvel at how productive you’ve been!
The Pomodoro Technique® works by helping you to hyper-focus on tasks, fight distractions, and teach your brain to conquer a short attention span. By splitting up your work into chunks and regularly giving your brain and eyes a rest break, you’re pushing yourself to be efficient and accountable in finishing or making significant progress on your work.
What Students Are Saying
Students that try the Pomodoro Technique® have reported enhanced levels of productivity during the 25-minute spans, because the brain is suddenly pushing to see how much can be accomplished in those 25-minute intervals. Students also report less fatigue and mental exhaustion at the end of the day, and a confidence-boosting feeling of accomplishment when tasks are completed on (or before) time.
Who Benefits from the Pomodoro Technique®?
The Pomodoro Technique® is not just for students, but for anyone working on a deadline, or on creative projects or developing content. Whether your task is to churn out a paper, complete a proposal, perfect a graphic design project, or write some complex code, you will find that breaking your work into 25-minute chunks is incredibly advantageous.
The breaks you take between bursts of productivity also allow you to subconsciously reflect more holistically on your project or product, prompting you to review your progress with fresh eyes so you adjust where necessary.
How to Start Using the Pomodoro Technique®
One of the best aspects of this time management technique is how simple it is to begin. Simply find a timer and give it a try. Although we all have timers on our phones which we can use, sometimes the distracting notifications from our other phone apps make it counterproductive to use it as our pomodoro timer. If you’d like a more formal approach, consider exploring a Pomodoro app, like the following:
Pomodor - for a simple web-based Pomodoro timer
Marinara Timer - for a shareable web-based Pomodoro timer
Forest - for a mobile Pomodoro timer
Be Focused - for Apple users
KanbanFlow - for combining Kanban with Pomodoro
Toggl - Track for combining Pomodoro with time-tracking
The key is to fully commit to the technique. It may feel unnatural at first, to work in 25-minute bursts but after a few days of consistently applying the technique, you may find that it helps rev-up your efficiency and productivity noticeably. For more information, check out the Pomodoro Technique, written by Francesco Cirillo.