One of the biggest woes I hear about from students is the ridiculous amount of hours they spend studying. Hours upon hours can be lost in the library when you are deep in that assignment due in 24 hours. This is both counterproductive and just plain bad for your health. A technique that I have discovered during my years at university is the Pomodoro Technique. It’s a time management technique created by Francesco Cirillo, with an emphasis on getting that to-do list checked. Here’s a quick guide on how to incorporate it into university life!
Step 1 – set out your tasks
You want to create a (fairly) comprehensive list of the tasks that you want to complete. Don’t worry if you forget to add things, just write them down when they pop into your head. This is one of the core elements of the Pomodoro Technique – by writing down the distraction as soon as it occurs, you free up space in your mind to continue focusing on the task at hand. By having a list, you know in which direction you want to move in.
Use the list frequently throughout the day – I have mine in a fun little agenda that I can carry around with me everywhere. There are many apps that also do the same thing, Google Keep and Evernote are just as functional. Whatever works for you, find it, and use it!
Step 2 – find a timer
The Pomodoro Technique got its name from the cute little tomato timers that was a staple in every kitchen (in my house, it was an egg, but to each their own). The idea is to set it to 25 minutes – an amount of time that you can spare without too much obligation. This forces your concentration to sharpen. When you know you only have to spend 25 minutes working on a task, you are less likely to get distracted as the break is already on the horizon. The important point is to keep to the timer. One of my favourites is the Goodtime timer app on the Play Store – it allows me to customise the amount of time to study and take breaks. It also automatically turns off the Wifi and sound of your phone – which is great for preventing that distracting FOMO feeling.
Step 3 – WORK
This step doesn’t really need much explanation. You said you were going to focus on the lecture notes from Bio 101 – and guess what you’re going to do for 25 minutes? Yep, I think you’re getting the hang of it.
Step 4 – relish in your accomplishments (for a few minutes)
Ah! You made it! 25 whole minutes. This may not sound like a lot, but for a student that is in the thick of exam season, sliding into the despair of failure – the success of this simple technique is empowering. You now have the next 5ish minutes to make a cup of tea, watch a YouTube video or scroll through Pinterest (you may have guessed my favourite study break habits…)
This is your mental break. Enjoy it!
Step 5 – repeat until you boss it
Ding ding – break’s over. Time to repeat it all over again. Keep on going until you smash it – you’ll feel great by the end of a productive day. You can take longer breaks every 2/3 pomodoros – I usually save these for lunch or a walk outside.
This technique has revolutionised the way I manage my time and study schedule at university. I personally have customised the focus & break times to something I am more comfortable with, and that fits better into my daily tasks. Some of the benefits that the Pomodoro Technique achieves are that you get a good grasp of how long you should devote to a task, how efficiently you are working, and an improved headspace for concentration.
If you want to know more, you can head on over to the official website. There are plenty of resources on how to incorporate this technique into your life.
Got studying down, but you’re still a ball of stress? Read my post on dealing with exam stress here!
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