Is the Pomodoro Technique worth it?

Short answer: yes

But what is the Pomodoro Technique and why is it a popular way to break down big tasks into smaller ones?

Pomodoro is Italian for tomato and it refers to a sauce that comes from it. It also serves as a working interval to focus on a part of a larger task.

Meet Francesco Cirillo, who invented the Pomodoro technique we all know and love today.

The idea behind it is that you pick a task and you work on it for 25 minutes. 25 minutes is the kitchen timer Cirillo based his technique on. Then, you take a short break (usually 5 minutes). Then you repeat the process until you’re done with the project at hand. It also notes that after every 4th Pomodoro session you take a longer break, usually about 10 to 30 minutes.

So why use this technique to accomplish bigger tasks?

• It makes the project less daunting
• It prioritizes the easier tasks so that you can take on bigger ones
• It reduces everyday distractions
• You’re studying for a big exam but don’t want to take hours at a time without breaks
• It also helps with procrastination (the main reason why I love this technique)

In short, 25-minute work intervals with 5-minute breaks is the way to go if you’re trying to get things done. However, the Pomodoro techniques have since extended to other intervals (ex. 50/10 or 45/15), so you have options of how you divide them and which tasks to take on.