Pomodoro Technique: The Study Method I Don’t Love — But Many Swear By

I’ll be honest — the Pomodoro Technique isn’t my personal favourite.
It feels a little rigid for how I like to work. But here’s the thing: it actually works really well for a lot of people, especially when it comes to staying focused and avoiding burnout. So it would be a shame not to mention this technique in my series.

So in this post, I’m going to walk you through:

• What the Pomodoro Technique is
• Why so many students love it
• How to use it (with a few personal tips and tweaks)

Whether you’re new to structured time management or just curious, this might be the method that finally helps you concentrate.

What Is the Pomodoro Technique?

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The idea is simple:

Work in focused sprints of 25 minutes, followed by short breaks.

Each sprint is called a “Pomodoro” (Italian for tomato), named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Cirillo originally used.

How It Works – Step by Step

Here’s how to use the method:

→ The goal is to build focused momentum without exhausting yourself.

Why You Will Like It

The Pomodoro Technique is especially popular among students because it:

• Prevents burnout by encouraging regular breaks
• Improves focus by eliminating multitasking
• Creates structure during long study sessions
• Helps fight procrastination by lowering the barrier to start

You don’t need to be “in the mood to study” — just commit to one Pomodoro and go from there.

My Honest Experience

I’ve tried Pomodoro several times. Here’s what I noticed:

+ It helps when I feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start
+ It works well for revision or focused reading
– But for deep writing or creative tasks, I personally prefer longer, uninterrupted blocks

→ My Tip: Use a fun tool like the ones mentioned below. I love the forest app and planting trees while studying!

Tools to Try It Out

You don’t need a fancy timer — but these can help:

• Pomofocus.io – free online timer
• Forest app – grow a virtual tree when you focus and you can even plant a real tree!
• Focus To-Do – combines Pomodoro + to-do lists
• Or go classic: set a 25-minute timer and place your phone far away.

Final Thoughts

Even though Pomodoro isn’t my go-to method, it’s one of the most recommended techniques for a reason. It gives your brain clear boundaries, your energy a rhythm, and your study sessions a real sense of progress.

So if you’re struggling to stay on task — give it a try. One tomato at a time 🍅

Sources

• The Pomodoro Technique – Francesco Cirillo
• the reclaim blog – pomodoro explained

See my other Posts:

• 🧠 Why Starting Feels So Hard — And How I Finally Did It.
• 3 Tricks That Helped Me Stop Procrastinating (And Might Work for You Too)
• The 1% Method – Why Tiny Habits Can Change Your Life as a Student
• My Top Five Study Tips