Studying is hard. This is a fact of life. Especially as AP season nears, studying is more important than ever. But, I can never seem to focus on one thing long enough to get any productive studying done. I’m sure plenty of people have this issue as well. But then, I found pomodoros. This study method has helped increase my productivity exponentially (I’m even doing one right now as I write this article).
The Pomodoro Technique is a study method in which you study for a period of time, then take a short break. This method helps you focus on one single task without losing focus or multitasking. Pomodoros are good for tasks you don’t want to do. They force you to “get on with it” and actually do your work. This technique was created by developer and entrepreneur Francesco Cirillo. The technique was named after the tomato-shaped timer Cirillo used to track his work intervals.
But, this technique does have some downsides. The Pomodoro timer can sometimes interrupt you when you are in a state of high productivity. This can then cause you to lose your focus and result in a less productive time. So, Pomoforos aren’t good for tasks that need creativity, innovation, or problem-solving.
The original Pomodoro technique goes like this:
- Choose a task
- Set a timer for 25 minutes
- Work
- Once the timer rings, take a 5-minute break, then start a new Pomodoro
- After 4 Pomodoros, take a 20-30 minute break
Pomodoro to fit your needs as well. I tend to go with a 50 minute work time followed by a 10-minute break. Another good way to get used to pomodoros is to follow youtube videos. There are many videos on youtube of people doing pomodoros that you can follow along to.
1 comment
interesting
but have you heard of the Reverse Pomodoro?
study for 5 minutes, then take a 25 minute break
forces you do get done with everything very quickly and efficiently
very effective for AP test prep