Do you use your time effectively and efficiently? The Pomodoro Technique will enable you to be more productive than ever! This free digital or printable pomodoro planner will help you use the technique successfully. 

Many people suffer from procrastination. There are so many things to do on one hand and so many distractions on the other.

Francesco Cirillo, the author of “The Pomodoro Technique” faced this problem at university. He found the solution to his problem in the form of a tomato-shaped kitchen timer. The Pomodoro Technique involves breaking tasks up into smaller, manageable units the author calls pomodoro (Italian for tomato).

The Pomodoro Technique

How does the Pomodoro technique help you?

This simple productivity method helps you focus on the task at hand.

When your time isn’t structured you keep getting distracted and focusing on other things. It’s difficult to stay focused for too long but when you only have to do it for 25 minutes it’s doable. You can put almost anything off for 25 minutes.

You will control your day and focus on the things you want to prioritize.

When you try to complete huge tasks, it becomes overwhelming and you land up getting nothing done. However, when you focus on small tasks that you can do in 25 minutes then you actually get them done.

Pomodoro Technique Rules

Breakup your day into pomodoros

Each day, decide how many hours you want to spend working and break that time into pomodoros. For example, set a goal of 10 pomodoro per day (i.e. 250 minutes of work). You will find yourself getting more done than if you spend all day working. Once you do that well, start adding more pomodoros each day. In an 8 hour workday you can do up to 16 pomodoros.

Spend exactly 25 minutes on each pomodoro – no more no less.

What happens if you finish your task before the 25 minutes are up?

Once you’ve started your pomodoro timer, you are committed to 25 minutes of focused work. You don’t stop before the time. Keep working. The goal is to internalize this habit so that eventually you work pomodoro-style without even thinking about it. The only way to discipline yourself to be more productive is to adherence to the rules.

If you complete your task before, either review it or think of ways to improve or perfect it.

If you know a task will take less than 25 minutes before you start then combine smaller tasks into one Pomodoro.

For some people or for some tasks, 25 minutes might be too short. You can try longer sessions with longer breaks. Try different periods until you find the one that works best for you. The author suggests sessions between 20 to 45 minutes each.

Why 25 minutes?

The system is based on 25-minute intervals but that is just a guide. You should experiment with different time intervals to see what works best for you. If you find that you can focus better for longer or shorter then adjust the time. As long as you can focus for the entire interval and stick to the time you choose, it doesn’t really matter how long it is.

The duration of each session does not necessarily have to be 25 minutes. Find a time that works for you. During a study done (source) it was found that the most productive workers spent 52 minutes working on average and then took a 17 minute break. Find the ideal times that work for you since they differ from person to person.

Do not skip your breaks.

After each pomodoro you take a 5 minute break. Even if you don’t feel you need a break, you have to take one. You need to take breaks in order to stay focused. Don’t waste your breaks checking emails or working on other things. Rest so that you are ready to focus on your next pomodoro.

When your mind understands that there is time to focus and time to relax after this session it will stop wondering during your work time.

After you have finished 4 pomodoros, take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

This longer break will help you stay motivated and rested. You will find yourself being more productive with way less stress.