Deep Work: A How-To Guide
A short guide to the Pomodoro Technique
Pomodoro Technique:
A time management method that uses a kitchen timer to break work into intervals (typically 25 minutes) separated by short breaks (typically 5 minutes).
Each interval is known as a ‘pomodoro’, from the Italian word for tomato.
When a predefined set of pomodoro’s have been completed, a longer break is taken to allow time to rest and regain focus.
In the late 1980s, a university student named Francesco Cirillo found himself constantly battling procrastination and dwindling focus.
Frustrated, he grabbed a tomato-shaped kitchen timer and inadvertently sparked a productivity revolution.
His approach was simple: break work into short, focused bursts followed by brief breaks.
The technique's brilliance lies in subtly following our brain's natural rhythm.
By creating urgency within manageable intervals, the pomodoro technique effectively curbs procrastination, keeps the mind fresh, and prevents burnout.
This aligns with cognitive psychology research.
Short, frequent breaks boost overall productivity — and setting multiple mini ‘deadlines’ allows our working brain to sit nicely at the peak of the stress curve.
Here's how you can use the Pomodoro Technique yourself:
Pick a Task: Clearly define what you'll work on. Single-tasking beats multitasking.
Set Your Timer: Use a physical timer or an app to count down 25 minutes. During this time, eliminate distractions — no emails, no social media, just deep, focused work.
Work Intensely: Commit fully to the task. Treat these minutes as sacred, protected productivity pockets.
Short Breaks: Once the timer rings, take exactly five minutes to stretch, hydrate, or briefly relax your mind. Avoid engaging tasks that might pull you in longer.
Longer Breaks: After four rounds, reward yourself with a more substantial 15–30-minute break. Step away completely — take a walk, meditate, or enjoy a snack.
Using this technique effectively also means adapting it to your own personal needs.
If 25 minutes feels restrictive, experiment with these times to see what works for you.
The Pomodoro Technique isn't just another productivity fad. It's a method backed by cognitive science.
Each completed cycle provides a dopamine hit, reinforcing positive habits.
Over time, this can significantly boost your ability to concentrate, manage tasks efficiently, and maintain sustained performance.
So, next time you face a daunting task or find your focus slipping, remember Cirillo's humble tomato timer — and get to work.
I personally find pomodoro focus time very low like.. when I take break every 25 mins it breaks the rhythm for me.
So i generally tend to follow a format of 60 min FOCUS 15 min SHORT BREAK and 30 min LONG BREAK
Works pretty well for me.
Obviously a matter of personal interest but i would say a modified version is always a more person focused approach.
I never really got into the Pomodoro technique. Personally, I use the approach of just getting started—15 or 20 minutes is all it takes to break the inertia.
Once I’m in, I’m usually off to the races. When I’m interested in something or determined to finish a project, I can hyper-focus like nobody’s business. But the Pomodoro technique? It just never worked for me.