The Pomodoro Technique

The original technique has six steps:

1. Decide on the task to be done. ¹
2. Set the Pomodoro timer (typically for 25 minutes).
3. Work on the task.
4. End work when the timer rings and take a short break (typically 5–10 minutes).
5. Go back to Step 2 and repeat until you complete four pomodori.
6. After four pomodori are done, take a long break (typically 20–30 minutes) instead of a short break. Once the long break is finished, return to step 2.

After completing a task within a Pomodoro session, utilize any remaining time to briefly review and reflect on what you’ve done. ² Use this opportunity to make small improvements, reinforce what you’ve learned, and document key insights until the timer signals the end of the Pomodoro. Additionally, to transit smoothly into future sessions, take this time to glance over your list of upcoming tasks for the next Pomodoro sessions, update them if necessary.

Footnotes

1. It’s recommended to assign just one task to each 25-minute block. Make sure to link the task to your big goals. For every task, ask yourself: “Why does this matter?” ↩

2. What did you accomplish? Did you fulfill your learning target, objective, or outcome for the task? ↩