I started using the Pomodoro Technique to structure focused work sessions. It’s simple: 25 minutes of focused work, then a short break. Repeat.
- 25 min work
- 5 min break
- 4 cycles then a longer break
How I got into it is pretty stupid. I started it off just for fun, as a non-serious challenge to myself, that I would not leave my room until I spend atleast 30 minutes doing a task. It worked , probably because I had challenged myself!
I was curious as to why this works and how did my body decide to overcome resistance. Secretly, I thought that I was a genuis and I have accidentally found something unique. A little research told me that this was a pretty common pattern, where one can get something done by silentenly challenging their brain. This artifical determination creates a reward situation for the brain. Reward creates motivation, which increases the dopamine in your body, and fuels you to act. Successfully completing a self-imposed challenge increases your chances to be more efficient. This is exactly what gamification applications do; use an instant positive reinforcement to get you to move forward. Example: You open an app to book a cab and hoorayy, you just got a flashy 25% discount pop-up banner on your screen!
The Pomodoro Technique is just a gamification of your task against a time window. You can choose whatever you are comfortable with (15 min, 25 mins, 45 mins etc.) and see what works for you. Start small and give it a try!