The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It uses a kitchen timer to break work into intervals, typically 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. Each interval is known as a pomodoro, from the Italian word for tomato, after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Cirillo used as a university student. The technique has six steps:
- Decide on the task to be done.
- Set the Pomodoro timer (typically for 25 minutes).
- Work on the task.
- End work when the timer rings and take a short break (typically 5–10 minutes).
- Go back to Step 2 and repeat until you complete four pomodoros.
- After four pomodoros are done, take a long break (typically 20-30 minutes).
The Pomodoro Technique is closely related to concepts such as timeboxing and iterative and incremental development used in software design, and has been adopted in pair programming contexts. The technique helps resist self-interruptions and re-trains the brain to focus, promoting sustained concentration and staving off mental fatigue. It is useful for many types of work including writing, coding, design, and study, and is ideal if you get distracted while working on a project or want to understand how long a task takes. Apps and websites providing timers and instructions have widely popularized the technique.
