Staying focused and productive can be a real challenge with all the distractions of fast-paced modern life. The same goes for everyone, children and adults – finding effective ways to manage your time and be productive is crucial.
Students who study in an online school sometimes have trouble managing their time. Some of our tutors recommend that students try the Pomodoro technique, which gained widespread recognition. Our teachers consider it a good solution for online students who are delaying or avoiding studying.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
This time management method aims to improve efficiency and focus. Italian Francesco Cirillo developed the Pomodoro Technique in the late 80’s. The main concept of this technique is to divide your work into short but focused time intervals with brief breaks between. He named these intervals “Pomodoros”.
There is a story about why Cirillo named this method the Pomodoro technique. While testing his method, Cirillo used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer to track the work intervals. The Italian word for tomato is pomodoro, hence the technique’s name.
While different populations widely use the Pomodoro technique, it can do wonders for students. Using the Pomodoro technique for studying can help you break the procrastination chain and start learning. Additionally, it can improve your focus, so in the end, you might even increase your daily productivity.
How Does it Work?
The Pomodoro technique is not complicated to follow. We will break it down in a few easy steps.
Set a Task:
Start by selecting a task or a list of tasks you want to accomplish. Your goal can be anything from studying a particular lesson, completing an assignment, doing a school project, or taking a test or quiz on the online learning platform.
Set the Timer:
Set a timer for 25 minutes and start your study session. A kitchen timer or an old table clock might be a good choice for tracking study intervals. Be selective when you choose tools for measuring time. If you use your phone, you may get tempted to scroll through TikTok and Instagram, and there goes your Pomodoro.
Work Intensely:
Once your work interval starts, do your best to stay focused on the task at hand until you hear the timer ring. Avoid distractions and interruptions during this period.
Take a Short Break:
After the Pomodoro timer rings and the study time runs out, take a short break of five minutes. Use this time to stretch, grab a snack, or do something enjoyable to relax your mind.
Repeat:
Repeat each step in this process. After completing four Pomodoros, take a longer break of 15-30 minutes. This marks one complete cycle.
Benefits of the Pomodoro Technique for Online Students
EduWW teachers recommend the Pomodoro study technique to students who have just started online schooling. That type of schooling is flexible and self-paced and requires good time management. That is something students who just started with online school do not have as a skill. They also suggest it to students who are procrastinators or have bad focus. Lastly, Pomodoro might be good for students with short attention spans.
First-time online learners
Once students switch from traditional to online schooling, they have a whole day to organize it how they want. Many fall into the trap of not knowing when and how long they should work on school tasks. Our teachers suggest the Pomodoro method to help you create a study routine that eventually gives some structure to studying.
By using the Pomodoro study technique over time, you will improve your focus and enhance your productivity. However, before that, you will gain one more crucial routine.
Students who have trouble focusing on studying
With Pomodoro, they can follow a routine set for them more easily than those who have trouble focusing on command. If you are having focusing difficulties, try this method and be patient. It won’t be easy when you first start, but over time, you will master it.
Students with ADHD and ADD
Lastly, the Pomodoro technique might be a good method for students with ADHD. However, our tutors warn that this might be counterproductive at times. Students with attention disorders need more time to focus on a certain task. Therefore, blocks of studying shorter than 45 minutes or one hour can be confusing and damaging to their hardly-gained focus. Still, it is worth a try, and see if it works.
Brief breaks are important, too
Tutors at our school also stress the importance of the short breaks in the Pomodoro Techniques. During the 25-minute study intervals, students focus on the learning material at the highest possible level. During the five-minute breaks, students should ease their minds by doing something that relaxes them, such as listening to their favorite song, having a cup of tea or cocoa, or having a snack.
Why You Should Try the Pomodoro Technique for Studying
Although the Pomodoro is not difficult to understand as a study method, putting it into practice takes a lot of focused work. If you concentrate all your attention on those 25-minute-long study intervals, you will see results. You will have fewer procrastination periods and develop a study routine that you will follow.
Once concentrated studying becomes your routine, you will use learning time more effectively, improving your time management skills. That will help you complete your tasks faster, and undoubtedly, it will affect your grades and overall progress. If you are unsure if Pomodoro is the right method, consult your assigned tutor and ask them for an opinion.
