Sometimes, a simple solution can be more powerful than one with bells and whistles – especially when it comes to productivity and focus. The Pomodoro® Technique’s endurance is testament to this – ever since Francesco Cirillo developed it 40 years ago, it has remained a practical and reliable time management technique used by millions of people the world over. 

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What are the six steps in the Pomodoro Technique?

Cirillo was a student struggling to study and looking for ways to increase his attention span when he began using his kitchen timer to establish set focus intervals. The timer was shaped like a tomato (or pomodoro, in Italian).

The technique can still be accomplished with a simple kitchen timer, making it very straightforward and easy to replicate.

The pomodoro technique can be broken down into six easy steps. 

1. Pick a task to complete
2. Set the pomodoro timer for 25 minutes
3. Work on the task until the timer goes off (this is the pomodoro) – without any interruptions
4. Take a five-minute break
5. Repeat step 2 until you reach four pomodori
6. Every time you complete four pomodori, take a longer break of 15-30 minutes

Keep running through the 6 steps until your task is finished!

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Is the pomodoro technique effective? What science says

Research indicates the pomodoro technique is highly effective. A recent study in the The National Library of Medicine compared the Pomodoro technique (of taking pre-determined breaks) to students self-regulating when to take a break. 

Researchers discovered that when students didn’t have a defined point of “break,” they tended to study longer and break longer – leading to greater fatigue and distractedness, and lower levels of concentration and motivation. In other words, the Pomodoro technique was both more efficient and better for a participant’s mood than playing it by ear.

Of course, the pomodoro technique may not work for everyone, or may need to be paired with other productivity tools like minimalist phone app – but it is a legitimate and research-proven technique.

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Tips for more effectively using the Pomodoro Technique

It’s important to note that if a pomodoro is interrupted by something you can’t postpone until your break, you have to restart the pomodoro. In other words, you can’t opt to do 10 minutes of the task, take a break to answer a phone call, then finish the other 15 minutes. 

Cirillo also says that pomodoros should be seen all the way through. So if you finish the task after 15 minutes, instead of abandoning the pomodoro, instead use this time to check over your work, plan for the future, re-reading what you are studying, etc – doing whatever you can do to stay immersed in the task. 

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Use minimalist phone app to reinforce focus habits

Once it’s time to take a break, be mindful about only taking the break for five minutes. If you opt to use that time to check your messages and phone notifications, use an app like minimalist phone to help you stay on track. Minimalist phone helps users develop a better relationship with their phone – without eliminating functionality.

When it comes to the Pomodoro Technique, the app has several features geared towards deeper concentration and productivity – making it a good accessory if you’re looking to permanently alter your focus habits.

An in-app time reminder, for example, can be used so that you’re either kicked out of the app after a pre-set time limit, or receive a pop-up reminder after a pre-set time limit. That way you eliminate the temptation to keep scrolling and scrolling without paying attention to your pomodoros – and you stick to the five-minute break.

You can also plan ahead with blocking schedules in minimalist phone. By scheduling an app block ahead of time to overlap your Pomodoros, you can opt to spend your five minute break completely away from your screen – reading, having a snack, taking a walk, etc. This can make it easier to stick to 5-minute breaks and then get back into Pomodoro focus.

Finally, you can use the app to filter notifications. This won’t eliminate them entirely – it just keeps them out of immediate sight and prevents them from pinging you in the middle of your Pomodoro. During your break, or after you’ve completely finished your tasks, you can then find them in a separate notification folder.

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How to increase your attention span with Pomodoro

Did you know that the Pomodoro Technique is often employed by therapists working with ADHD clients? Many people – especially those with ADHD – struggle with time management and focus, which can greatly limit productivity. 

The Fitzrovia Psychology Clinic explains that, “The idea behind the technique is that the timer instills a sense of urgency.”

“The idea behind the technique is that the timer instills a sense of urgency.”

Rather than feeling like you have all day to get a task done – and consequently kicking the can down the road each hour while you waste time on distractions – the Pomodoro Technique encourages you to make as much progress as possible in 25 minutes.

And importantly, it also encourages users to take (small, manageable) breaks. A recent study of why people don’t take breaks at work concluded that, despite the fact that breaks tend to help employees perform better and maintain their energy throughout the day, they were often pressured by performance concerns or high workloads – feeling that working without stopping was more productive. Using a time management training tool like the Pomodoro Technique can allow users to feel like the break is, in fact, a key part of maintaining overall productivity rather than an impediment.

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Use pomodoro to achieve your time management goals 

Research has suggested that the average attention span is shrinking, and modern distractions – like our phones and the constant presence of screens in everything from cars to appliances now – may be a contributing factor.

However, you can learn how to increase your attention span – and using the Pomodoro Technique is a simple yet powerful way to revolutionize your productivity and manage your time so that you’re in control of your focus and efficiency.

A deep dive into the psychology behind time management and how this simple yet powerful technique can revolutionize your productivity.

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