Not the Pomodoro Technique
Over the years, I’ve tried various methods of studying, trying to work out how to make the best of my time. I’ve tried sitting and studying until I got tired or until the homework was done. I’ve tried juggling my various pieces of homework, going from one subject to another, switching to ’give my brain a break’. Tried getting homework completed early, or sometimes the night before. I’ve tried studying with phone by my side —theoretically so I could work with friends over Facebook — and getting distracted with each buzz, calling me over to look at each snap, text, Instagram comment, Facebook tag... you know the drill.
I’m going to describe what I found works well for me.
I call it my 40 by 10, 3 by 1.
Tested by trial and error, what I’ve found works well — and by working well, I mean that I stay focused on the task, get the work done in a time-efficient manner and have the stamina to keep going throughout the day without feeling mentally fatigued by the many tasks facing me.
These are the steps that I take:
1. I put my phone just out of reach (so it takes more effort to check it), and I switch off my Wi-Fi, so no social media. It distracts and interferes too much.
2. I decide what I am going to study for today.
3. 40 minutes – I concentrate and work on my homework for 40 minutes.
4. I then have a 10-minute break – this is my 40*10 routine
5. After the 10-minute break, I return to my task and if I’m revising, then I’ll Recall & Retrieve at this stage.
6. I will work for another 40 minutes, followed by 10-minute break.
7. I repeat this cycle 3 times and then I have an hour’s break – this is my 3*1
8. During this break, I will relax, switch on my Wi-Fi and reconnect with the world (aka check my social media), eat, and watch some television.
9. On the weekends or time permitting, I repeat the cycle.
10. I may get two to three effective study cycles in.
I have found this works well for me, but there are other, similar and similarly effective methods out there. Recently, I came across the Pomodoro Technique. This is a time management technique advocated by Francesco Cirillo from the late 1980s, who suggested using a timer to break down work into intervals, normally 25 minutes — you work on the task and when the timer rings, you take a 3-5 minute break and then repeat the process. After four Pomodoros, you take a longer break of 15-30 minutes, and then repeat the cycle. The idea of the Pomodoro technique is to maximize focus and flow and reduce both internal and external interruptions.
If you’ve never considered the impact of time management in your studying effectiveness and efficiency – give this a try. Whether it’s my method or whether it’s the Pomodoro Technique, take your pick and see what works for you.
I would encourage that you make this a part of your daily routine. Cirillo suggested using a pomodoro (Italian for tomato) kitchen timer, but keep it simple and focus on the task at hand.
Enjoy!