Why is it Effective to Set the pomodoro at 25 Minutes?

The Pomodoro® Technique It is actually a time-tested system created by the Italian Francesco Cirillo for managing time effectively and efficiently.

So, let’s make it clear straight from the beginning of this article: this technique is by no extent an invention of mine.

Now, why did I find it effective to set the “unit” bulk of time at 25 minutes? Well, From my research and understanding : 

The “Pomodoro®” time unit is 25 minutes + 5 minutes rest since we conventionally measure time in 1-hour spans.

So you can get two “Pomodoros” per hour or 16 per day in case you set yourself to work for 8 hours straight. It is a straightforward system to organize chunks of tasks logically.

And it also makes it pretty easy to quickly recall time plans thanks to the symmetrical subdivision of one of the most common time units: the 60-minute hour.

This article is NOT an exhaustive review of the technique itself, if you need to, you will find more pieces of information from the Author Francesco Cirillo folowing this link…

How Effective is the “Pomodoro® Technique”?

While trying numerous solutions to manage my time, I stumbled upon this system that claims to help you maximize your work sessions and improve your capacity to focus on tasks.

Now, if we talk about effectiveness, I found the best weapons of the system are the 5-minute rests.

I always had the big problem of working for hours straight without taking any pause and coming exhausted at the end of the work session.

If you plan in advance your day with this technique and make the effort to stick to the plan, the problem of exhaustion will pretty much take care of itself.

The planned breaks force you to scatter your attention on a completely different occupation thus letting you recharge your own system batteries. 

I tried it myself. You should too.

Will a 5-Minute Break Every 25 Minutes Prevent the “Flow” State while Studying | Working?

Not If the 5-minute break is just a part of a bigger plan made of 30-minute blocks.

If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense since your overall view should be the entire task at hand, and that may require more than one 25-minute unit to be completed. 

Keep in mind that your resources (energy, focus capabilities) are limited and not constant on different days.

The point here is to employ a systematic approach to your time in a way that can reliably maximize your performance.

To me, it was hard to internalize that after a given time I spent on an intense task I needed a break or my output would naturally deteriorate.

I was afraid to lose focus and be less productive.

But this was easily not the case, the hard lift was instead to accept it as a part of the process and let it work for my best interest… and it works like a charm indeed.

But do not take my word alone, check for yourself the work of Professor Elton Mayo (The Hawthorne experiment in 1927), Herzberg & Norfolk, or Dukette & Cornish for instance.

There are tons of white papers from academic research in support of this thesis.

Read more : do you really think you know it all?? I am going to prove you wrong… What about 42 Time Management facts you probably don´t know yet? Find out more…

How Often Should I Take a Break from Studying | Working and Why?

As a rule of thumb: use the 25+5 minutes as a basis to structure your system.

I would advocate sticking to these 30-minute blocks at least in the beginning.

This because they are extremely easy to manage and you will probably take advantage of more breaks per hour.

Of course, as time goes by you can vary the duration of the blocks to fit your situation.

(Know Thyself : you gain more knowledge about how you personally respond to pressure and stress).

Yes Sir it is! 😃

It is there to help us to reach our particular goals. So it makes total sense to make adjustments according to our own necessities.

Keep in mind also that our psychological conditions are a big part of the game.

We all tend to perform better when we are in good health and in a good psychological state.

This is common sense, right?

(By the way, this is how the top athletes train themselves to reach the very limits of their possibilities…). 

Again, use logic and common sense:

If you feel like you need 5-10 minutes more to complete the task at hand without stress, by any means do so. 

But regardless of how you organize your day, make sure to include breaks (AND TAKE YOUR BREAKS PLEASE!).😊

We will discuss their massive benefits in the next chapter.

What Should you Not do in a 5-Minute Pomodoro®-Technique Break?

I will give you a list of things to avoid during your 5-minute breaks.

But let’s expand a bit on the big benefits they provide.

First of all, they are key in mitigating stress coming from intense and prolonged activities and help massively in remaining positive on the goal.

If this makes you smile with skepticism, then think briefly of the times you had to execute something complicated on a very strict schedule.

Did the fatigue help you produce a solid performance?

Again, your resources as a human being are limited.

You can stretch your capabilities by training yourself with various peak performance programs, but they won’t last indefinitely anyway.

Another benefit is that the break closes the chunk of the task you are working on.

This is critical, mostly at a sub-conscious level!

It provides a sense of accomplishment : you moved successfully another step of the stair.

You are well on your way toward the complexion of the whole project (Dopamine!!).

Furthermore, the whole 30-minute time concept helps also as a measuring unit of the time necessary to execute and accomplish a particular goal…

Use this information smartly! It can give you accurate insights in the coming future to evaluate the amount of time necessary to complete a similar task.

Not to mention the mere relief coming from “a break”.

But to correctly enjoy the pauses you have to handle them carefully until it becomes a habit…

What Should you DO in a 5-Minute Pomodoro®-Technique Break?

• Stop Working! Do not recap, revisit, or recall.
• Do not turn that smartphone on! Stay away from Social Media. They have the power to make you lose your perception of time (especially the “fast” ones like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram). You could easily lose 30 minutes without even realizing it.
• Don’t start other work/business-related activities (telephone calls, e-mail, etc.)
• Don’t play complex video games, or read extremely complex documents/books. The goal here is to relax your brain, giving it some minutes to recover and prepare for the next time block.  
• Don’t just stay on the chair staring at the wall, or lying on the couch or the bed, your physiology needs to see/feel/smell something different to renew and recharge itself.

Here are some ideas to enjoy your breaks the most

• Get out and breathe some fresh air, your body (and your brain as well) need oxygen to work properly. Why not reach the shop downstairs for a coffee and a small chat for instance?
• Listen to music ( I love this one!!) . This is HUGE. I had my best results from instrumental, slow ambient, or lo-fi music compilations I found on YouTube…
• Move your body, A very good habit could be incorporating some stretch to prevent pain in your joints due to the time spent in the same position.
• Drink water regularly, it helps the natural thinking process of your brain from a chemical and physiological standpoint.
• Check out some quick comedy videos or podcasts that can make you laugh out loud! The instant boost in your endorphins will work wonders for your next time block of work. Try it!

Read more: could you explain in plain English the differences between Time Management and Productivity? I have something for you…

Conclusion

The strength of the Pomodoro® Technique lies in its simplicity and adaptability.

The 30-minute blocks provide a clear structure, helping individuals stay on track and maintain high levels of focus.

The regular breaks serve as vital checkpoints of the work at hand, as well as mental and physical recovery

Use them wisely and boost productivity over longer periods.

While the Pomodoro® Technique provides a robust framework, it can be slightly tweaked to fit individual needs and circumstances.

If you read carefully, the technique’s emphasis on frequent breaks underscores the importance of self-care in achieving optimal performance.

These breaks are not merely pauses.

They are opportunities to reset and refocus.

They are crucial for maintaining a high level of productivity and avoiding the detrimental effects of prolonged stress.

Seriously, our ultimate goal is to create a sustainable work rhythm that maximizes efficiency while maintaining overall well-being, right?…

And now you have the ball, what about your experiences making the most of your day?

Let me know in the comments!