Pomodoro Technique

How it works

Developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s and named after his tomato-shaped kitchen timer. You pick one task, set a timer for 25 minutes and work only on that task until it rings. Then you take a 5-minute break. After four sessions (“pomodoros”), take a longer break of 15–30 minutes.

Two things do the work here. First, 25 minutes is short enough that committing to it feels easy, which helps with starting. Second, the break is scheduled, so you don’t need to “earn” it or decide when to stop — you can stay on task knowing rest is coming. Counting completed pomodoros also gives you a simple, visible measure of effort.

If something distracting pops into your head, write it down and return to the task. Deal with it in the break.

Try it now

1. Pick one task. Write it in the task label below.
2. Put your phone out of reach and close tabs you don’t need.
3. Start the timer and work until it rings. Don’t switch tasks.
4. When it rings, stop — even mid-sentence — and take the full 5-minute break away from the screen.