The Pomodoro Technique: how to use it for studying

The Pomodoro Technique is about as simple as study methods get. Work on one thing for 25 minutes, take 5 off, repeat. It turns revise biology into a handful of short sessions you can actually start.

Where the name comes from

Francesco Cirillo came up with it in the late 1980s, when he was a university student. He used a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato, and pomodoro is Italian for tomato.

How a session works

Do it exactly like this for a few days before you start tweaking things.

• Pick one specific task, like make flashcards for chapter 4. Not just biology.
• Set a timer for 25 minutes and do only that.
• When it rings, stop. Take 5 minutes. Stand up, get some water.
• After four rounds, take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

Why it helps

Starting is the hardest part of studying, and 25 minutes doesn't feel scary. A whole evening does. Once you've started, carrying on is usually easier.

The timer also gives you a finish line, so distractions can wait. And the breaks keep you fresh over a long revision day instead of fading after the first hour.

Plan in pomodoros

After a few days you'll know roughly how much you get done in one. That makes planning way more realistic.

Say your biology test is in two weeks and covers six topics. Give each topic two pomodoros: one to make flashcards, one to test yourself on them. That's twelve, about six hours of proper work spread over two weeks. Suddenly it looks doable.

It also shows you when a day is overloaded. If you've got eight pomodoros of homework and time for five, better to find out at 5pm than at 11pm.

When it goes wrong

If you keep getting interrupted, tell people you're busy for 25 minutes and close the tabs you don't need. An interrupted pomodoro doesn't count. Just start a fresh one.

For essays or long maths problems, 45 or 50 minutes with a 10-minute break can suit you better. If you can barely focus at all, start with 15 and build up.

And if breaks keep turning into an hour, stay away from anything with no natural end, like scrolling. Time the break too.

With the Focus Timer and Weekly Planner

• Put your study blocks for the week in the Weekly Planner, with how many pomodoros each subject gets.
• Write down the one task for your first block.
• Start a 25-minute session on the Focus Timer, phone in another room.
• At the end of the day, check what you actually finished and adjust tomorrow.

Quick questions