Time is precious and a speedy fellow. The nature of time makes it really important for us to manage it efficiently if we hope to not be left feeling that our lives are out of our control.
Thankfully, a popular time management method exists to aid us in managing our time, and is known as the pomodoro technique.
Written by Khadija
Here’s how the technique works: you pick a task to complete, set a timer for 25 minutes, and then focus on completing that task for the duration of the 25 minutes. Once the 25 minutes are up, you take a five minute break to refresh yourself and then repeat the process. You can record each session, and after four of these 25-5 sessions, you can take a longer break.
Countless individuals swear by the 25-minute work and 5-minute break interval strategy that the pomodoro technique entails. They state that these short, structured blocks of focused work allow you to combat distractions, avoid mental fatigue, and be more mindful of where your time is spent, which is the perfect groundwork for a productive day (Collins, 2020).
Another benefit of this technique is that it is better for your eye health. In the COVID era that we are in, a lot of our work is online and the digital screen can put great strain on our eyes. A break every 25 minutes can also be a break from the screen every once in a while.
As with most things, this technique also has its critics who argue that it is “not for everyone”. In these cases, a variation of the pomodoro technique can be used which is called flowtime. In this method, you are still giving yourself breaks and recording how much time you are spending on a task, but you are not tied to a timer (Greene, 2019). This is more helpful for creative and innovative tasks like writing or artwork in which a timer can unhelpfully break your concentration (Greene, 2019). (see this article for more information)
Adjusting to the pomodoro technique can be difficult but this method does wonders for individuals who struggle with distractions, procrastination, or need to complete repetitive tasks (Collins, 2020). With exam season nearing, studying for exams might be the perfect opportunity for you to try out the pomodoro technique if you haven’t already.
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