The Importance of Taking a Break: The Pomodoro Technique

The ratio of study hours for a class is often described as 1:3. For every hour of class, there should be three hours of studying. Do you remember hearing that number and dreading having to focus three whole hours on one subject? How would you be able to do that with all of your classes? The best way to overcome the struggle of ineffective studying is to find a method of studying that works for you. That's where the Pomodoro technique comes in.

The Pomodoro technique encourages fast sprints of productivity with small breaks in between to allow your mind to relax and not get overwhelmed by continuous studying. There are only six steps to the technique and doing one full set will take about an hour and fifteen minutes, broken up into four twenty-five minute blocks with breaks in between.

Here are the six easy steps to use this technique:

1. Pick a task. This may seem like a throwaway but the decision of picking one thing and mentally preparing yourself for it will go a long way in helping you do the rest of the steps.
2. Set a timer for 25 minutes. While there is an official Pomodoro timer you can get feel free to use whatever timer you want. A kitchen timer, hourglass, or even your phone can work!
3. Work on the task. Don't let yourself get interrupted. If you think of something else that you need to do in the middle of your Pomodoro then make a quick note of it and go back to working on the task at hand. You'll thank yourself later for focusing on it so much.
4. Once the timer goes off, give yourself a checkmark! You did it! Commemorate working so hard to get it done! It may not seem like much, but the little things can help make us our happiest.
5. Take a short break. Refill your coffee or drink, meditate, go to the bathroom. Do whatever quick thing you want to do to help clear your mind after focusing for the last quarter of an hour.
6. After every 4 Pomodoros take a longer break on a paper. This break can be around a twenty-half hour. This will allow your brain to have a nice rest after focusing for over an hour on one subject. After the break is done you can go back to another round of Pomodoros! 

You can find out more information on the Pomodoro method here and also find resources that can help you be your most productive self!