Pomodoro
A time management method that repeats a set of 25 minutes of focused work and a short 5-minute break, devised by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s.
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that repeats a set of 25 minutes of focused work + a short 5-minute break. It was devised by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s and was named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer he used (Pomodoro is Italian for tomato). By dividing focus time into short pieces, it makes it easier to keep concentrating even through long stretches of work.
The basic cycle
The rules of the pomodoro
Why it works
The core of the pomodoro’s effect is that it enforces “an alternating rhythm of focus and rest.” Human concentration naturally declines with continuous use, but when absorbed in work, people find it hard to notice that decline. The mechanical breaks set by the timer work as a mechanism that inserts chances to recover before you become aware of fatigue. Another effect is that it lowers the hurdle to getting started: by deciding “I will do it for just 25 minutes” rather than “I will do it until it is done,” it becomes easier to start on tasks you dread.
How well it fits with deep work
The pomodoro is not a cure-all. It is unsuited to work that needs 90 minutes or more of continuous immersion, like deep work (strategy planning, complex coding, writing). Interrupting every 25 minutes ends things before deep thinking gets going. For complex tasks, either do not apply it or use a custom version that extends the work time to 50 or 90 minutes.
Work it suits / does not suit
- Studying / reading (easy to divide)
- Writing routine documents
- Handling email / tasks
- Getting through administrative work in a focused burst
- Concentration training for people who are easily distracted
- Strategy planning / design (Deep Work territory)
- Complex debugging / coding
- While dealing with a customer
- During meetings
- Creative writing
Tools
There are many dedicated apps, but a smartphone’s timer alone is enough to practice it. Some apps record the number of cycles or have features that prevent interruptions, so choose one that fits your own work style, combined with a strategy for focus time. The 25/5-minute division is not absolute either; once you get used to it, adjusting it to your concentration span, such as extending it to 50/10 minutes, is accepted.