Beginner's Guide to The Pomodoro Technique, by Todoist on YouTube. 7 min 4 s.
- Video length
- 7 min 4 s
- Time to do it
- 5 minutes to set up
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Choose one task you want to finish and write it down. Split big assignments into pieces small enough to fit into a single 25 minute block.
Set a timer for 25 minutes. Use a kitchen timer, your phone or a Pomodoro app, and put the phone face down or in another room.
Work on that one task until the timer rings. Do not switch tasks, open other tabs or check messages while the clock runs.
Stop when the timer rings and take a 5 minute break. Stand up, stretch, get water or walk around away from your desk.
Start the next 25 minute block on the same or a new task. Mark one tally on paper each time you finish a full Pomodoro.
Take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes after four Pomodoros. Eat something, move your body, then start the cycle again.
Plan tomorrow using your tallies. Count how many Pomodoros you actually finished and book that many blocks into your day.
Tips and common mistakes
If a thought or interruption pops up mid-block, write it on a scrap of paper and deal with it in the break instead of stopping.
If a Pomodoro gets broken by something you cannot avoid, restart the 25 minutes rather than counting a half-finished block.
Keep the break away from your phone and social media, or the 5 minutes stretches out and the next block starts late.
Try shorter blocks of 15 minutes if 25 feels too long at first, then build up as your focus improves.
Questions
How long is one Pomodoro?
A Pomodoro is 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5 minute break. After four of them you take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.
What if I get interrupted during a Pomodoro?
Note the interruption quickly and go back to work, or restart the block if it truly broke your focus. Handle the interruption properly during your break.
Can I change the 25 minute length?
Yes. The 25 and 5 pattern is a starting point, so adjust the block length to whatever keeps you focused, as long as you keep the breaks.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
