I came across the Pomodoro technique when I was googling “how not to procrastinate” a few years back (yes, really…) and I wanted to share it with you guys because it really works for me as a focus and productivity hack.

The basic concept is based on a tomato shaped oven timer – you do a burst of 25 minutes of focus, then take a five minute break per pomodoro session. After the fourth pomodoro of 25 minutes, you take a fifteen minute break.

There are a few good free pomodoro apps out there – I use Focus Keeper which also tells you off if you try to check Instagram. Or you can go analogue and use an actual oven timer just like the technique’s Italian inventor Francesco Cirillo – it was a tomato shaped one, hence the name Pomodoro.

It’s really worked for me especially because my brain knows it only has to concentrate for 25 minutes before it gets to monkey around again.

I’ve also heard from lots of people that they love the technique for studying as well. Do you use a method to stay focused? If so I’d love to hear about it in the comments!