When you said if you feel like you're in a flow state, don't stop studying. I absolutely love this advice! You aren't FORCED to take the break, It's like taking a break in a middle of a race, where you're literally going at your fastest. The structure the pomodoro provides is great, but feel free to break it every once in a while :)
Exactly! I really just take the method as an encouragement for myself. It is difficult for me to get started if I see myself studying for a few hours. I would get started if I plan a break, but then when I got started, I often go a few sessions without needing a rest.
I actually completely disagree. If I’m in a flow state and take a break in between deliberately I find that the flow state gets extended, simple because if you are motivated to study before the break resuming it after the break is so much more easier and relaxing. For eg, say I study for 25 minutes and am still in the flow state to study another 10 minutes, if I take a 5 minute break I can study for another 25 minutes with the flow state, therefore extending it and not taking a risk whether the flow state will get recharged.
@@dwightschrute4750 a break during flow ruins everything for me. It might be adhd related, but once I lose focus, I struggle tremendously to regain it.
My issue is when I'm ina flow state it can literally last until I crash, such as for dozens of hours. But if I break that flow, it's broken... forever. And I can't get it back.
Can I just say - as a med student suffering from anxiety (shocking I know), music (especially lofi or classical) just helps me to relax and slow my heart-rate. So maybe it doesn't directly help with concentration, it might help it indirectly.
@@lady0shady Yes, I meant it as a sarcasm. So many of my friends, including me, are taking medication like benzos to help with anxiety and stress levels during exam period. 😔
I have adhd so I find studying without music detrimental lol. But changing the times for sessions was the trick I was looking for! The 30 or 25m was so so difficult to stick to, I found my attention always fizzling out. But 15 minutes with 5 minute breaks has had me more productive than ever in my life. And if I get in a flow state (which I do more often now!) I just go for longer.
The exact same thing goes for me too :) I always felt so guilty for cutting the 25 minutes down to 15 but I really have no other choice if I want to actually use the study sessions properly
Also adhd here, and I definitely need the shorter sessions, and even if it’s a lot of breaks, I need to be able to know I’ll be done soon (I usually go for 15 minutes at first, then I might increase to 20 minutes, but I can’t do more usually) And if I do go into hyperfocus I usually don’t even notice the alarm lol
@@JC-ud9yb it’s honestly such a great way to trigger hyper focus for something I actually should be focusing on without the usual resistance I find to doing what I’m supposed to do. Telling myself “well it’s only 15 minutes” makes the transition to a task so much smoother
I don't have ADHD and my ability to concentrate has been described as "very good", but 30 minutes is definitely too long for me as well. 15-20 minutes works and I usually take a longer break after 3 sessions.
As someone who SWEARS by the POMODORO method to help me learn languages I realized that I wasn’t always using it correctly in the beginning. Love that you found clever ways to enhance it I’ll definitely be using them! 🙏🏽
I adjusted Pomodoro to do it in the 50/10 style (then every 3rd hour the break is 30mins) and it has been an absolute GAME CHANGER. I always thought I learned slowly but I was just studying in the wrong increments
I used the Pomodoro Method this past weekend to complete a big project, but I found it more effective to about halve the time. So it was more like a 12-13 minute work session and then a 2-3 minute break. This worked well because I broke the project into LOTS of small chunks, and I wasn't too concerned about deep focus, since it wasn't particularly difficult; I was much more concerned about just sticking with it and getting through it, and the smaller sessions were very helpful for that.
I've never ever been able to use the Pomodoro method because I hate that the break is only 5/10/whatever way too short amount of minutes it is compared to way too long studying. Generally I study one subject until I complete one task (which I decide beforehand, like I have to write an essay, so I'm going to write the first page), see how long it took me to do that task, then take a break for the same amount of time. IDC if people say this isn't productive. This is what worked for me throughout all of high school and college. If I didn't do it like this, I would've gone insane.
Honestly that’s how I’ve been studying when I do study, just that I take longer breaks than I study hehe but now that you’ve said this, I might just do that too! Like if I study for 40 minutes, I get 40 minutes of rest. Even better if I rest lesser than 40 minutes.
I passed my Secondary Teacher State Exam (Oposiciones) last June, at 41, so I am officially a civil servant in Spain and will have a job for life. It all started with your beautiful, fun and useful videos so: THANK YOU.
. plan your session . if you finish in the middle of the session, continue with your next task . decide on the number of pomodoro sessions per day . don't pressure yourself to be productive even during breaks. it's okay to take long breaks after say 2-3 hours of cumulative studying . if you're in the flow state, don't take a break even if the session ends. keep going . use a physical timer cause if you use your device, you might get distracted . eliminate distractions. everything you don't need on the table, take it out. . when you're studying, sign out of all your accounts so even if you get distracted you won't be able to visit those sites; you'll be forced to come back to studying . classical conditioning: use one sensory experience only and completely for studying (one kinda music, one kinda noise, a separate account for study purposes, a separate place to study) . soft music with no lyrics helps with easy tasks. all kinds of music harm focus while working on hard tasks. use music only if you feel really out of focus and once you get in the zone, you won't need it anymore . take good breaks: go out, exercise, eat healthy, nap, meditate, clean, engage in a hobby, socialise . gamify your learning: reward yourself for your progress and punish for failures go outside go exercise change position healthy snack meditate clean up play with a pet play an instrument talk to a friend look out the window short nap watch yt
I have ADHD and sometimes it’s very difficult for me to start working on a task. When the paralysis happens, I aim for a 25/5 session, convincing myself that I have to work for only 25 minutes. More often than not, I enter the flow state before 25 minutes, and so I instantly extend the session into 50/10.
I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I thought I was done with "how to study" videos, but I learned a lot, particularly extending your pomodoro session when in the flow state and the 20-30min breaks after a cumulative 100mins of studying. Loved the editing and background music choice as well.👍🏾 Thank you!
I use white noise instead of music. It helps to drown out the noise of others, you quickly forget about it, and it triggers study mode for me after using it a few times.
@@kqlys7845 From a psychological perspective, it is probably one of the most satisfying noises in a man's life, especially when a bladder is full. Recordings of strong flows associated with a joyful sigh of relief should be cut and pasted into a pomodoro friendly 25 minute video, and its effect scientifically tested on male brains. Who knows ? It could work ! 🥳
When working in a 4 hour study block, I personally like to use 50/ 10, 50/10, 50/10, 45/15. I started with 25/5 but I found myself actually not wanting to take a break, much less that often. I’ve also noticed towards my last hour, I am feeling tired so hence the 45/15 change. This works for me and helps me achieve more with more dedicated study time, but also enjoy the longer break without feeling like the 5 minutes isn’t long enough at all. Occasionally I will use 25/5 towards the end of my study block, but at that point, it’s because I don’t want to study and want to take those breaks more often and study less interestingly enough. So I have a negative experience with shorter work intervals and associate them with my lack of desire to study.
I agree, that's why I study 90 mins in a row, then take approximately a half-hour break. Because when I'm in my flow state I can study for like 3 hours without brak so I prefer longer sessions with longer breaks
9:01 for a less extreme version of this, i use chrome and if you left click the tabs you are using to study and move them to another window, it keeps call your other tabs open but out of your eye line whilst you study. also, you could hide the apps bar on your laptop if you have one so u are less likeley to get distracted
It is such a misconception that you have to stop when your pomodoro session is complete. It is important to take breaks, but not at the detriment of interrupting your flow which you have worked so hard to get into! Accountability groups can help you to stay focused during these sessions too!
Yeah. I somehow can’t follow that kind of a pomodoro session. If I’m reading a particular topic and if it’s an important one that I’ve built a great deal of concentration to focus on it, I make sure to complete it before taking a break. Even if it takes me 3-4 hours or more at a stretch, I complete it and then take a break. I’ve tried otherwise and feel that if I take a break in between and then come back, I lose the focus I had built. I would then need to go back a few pages and that would lead me to waste even more time.
On the music thing: tiny sounds in the background distract me severely, so listening to some sort of background music or even ambiance on noise canceling headphones is beneficial because it removes distractions.
Great video! I've been using Pomodoros as a grad student for a while now, but it's always nice to gain another perspective. I'm always telling others to adjust the specific study/break times to what works best for them, so it was cool to hear you say that. I usually work in 45/15 study/break sessions, but I sneak in a quick cleaning chore during the break. New sub, but it looks like you recommend that, too. Online students especially tend to study from home, so you're already there. What's great is sneaking in a quick chore during a break means less to do later. No one likes to clean forever--especially if you've been studying all day. Starting the dishwasher, starting a load of laundry, folding a load of laundry, etc. are all quick things you can do on a break. It gets your blood flowing a bit, too. Then, you still have time to run to the bathroom or grab a quick snack. However someone decides to configure their "poms," the method does work. Thanks again, Zach, and I look forward to more of your content in the future. I'm sure you have more great advice!
I think there's something to be said for stopping even if you are in a flow state. IMO it makes it faster and easier to get to a flow state when you resume and makes you eager to get back to the task. It may also increase your stamina to maintain a flow state over a longer period because you are taking breaks. When you break in a flow state, your mind tends to continue to turn things over in the background, so it's a chance for some creative ideas to pop out.
I agree, I’ve done 25/5 and 50/10 for music practice and I generally learn better with 25/5 sessions and get into flow more often with the 25/5 split as well. My scores on recent exams were about 10% higher using a 25/5 split vs 50/10
Great video! Extra little tip: if you're a bit stuck on something when the end of your pomodoro session beeps, KEEP GOING just long enough to get past the thing you're stuck on. Once you're at a place where you know what you're doing, stop and take your break. This will make it much easier to start your next session, because you've removed the friction. Zach mentions something like this in another video, where he says you shouldn't finish a flashcard session on a failed card - only finish when you've just got a card right.
Great video! I'll be applying these tips for sure! Just a small note, as a psychology student, it was very weird to see Sigmund Freud on the corner when you were talking about classical conditioning. Maybe no one will notice and I get he's a familiar face from psychology, but I think there's more important figures related to the topic (like Skinner, Watson or Pavlov, you got that one right) and would be good to talk about them instead of giving credit to a dude that had nothing to do with this
Most psychology students are very neurotic and should do a psychoanalysis instead of studying psychology in college, and later ruining their patients lives by projecting their neurosis on them. But their strong neurotic defenses prevent them from doing the right choice.
Thank you! I've been looking for videos to help with Pomodoro planning, and this helped a lot with breaking it down. How to ADHD's video about Pomodoro was my first introduction. As someone with ADHD, though, music is a MUST with this method. It helps cut down on any auditory distractions, like ticking clocks, dogs barking, sirens, wind chimes, etc. I can't focus if I don't have a sensory input that's predictable. I have premade playlists to cut down on music setup time, but I need some form of music to help me with this. From least to most input strength I have: • Ambient noises (like rain storms) • Orchestral, non cinema • Movie Soundtracks • Folk music, more story-based than emotion-heavy • Movies and Musicals (stuff that I know by heart, so it's not as distracting) • Whatever is in my current playlist For the most meanial tasks, I'll watch TH-cam videos or listen to podcasts that are shorter than my Pomodoro session. I use it more for everyday tasks and projects than actual studying, but I use it for studying as well
The thing I learned from using Pomodoro method is it doesn't worked that well with me, due to my inability to shift mentality and focus fast. For reference, I do architecture, design, and music, and the tasks are pretty hard to divide during the concepting / pre-production phases, because they're such holistic and comprehensive tasks. I can plan the research and drawing/production phases, but in only consist 30-40% of the works.So, I use time blocking instead, where in certain time, I do certain things (i.e from 7 am to 12 am, I concept). For similar cases, but have already comfortable with Pomodoro method, I suggest; (1) try longer sessions for bigger and comprehensive tasks (ex : concepting, composing, designing) (2) disrupt your routine if things get boring (vary duration, change pace, change place) (3) personalize, know how your pace and acceleration works (do you divide each sessions the same or you start slow first) (4) commit and consistent, try it for a month (workdays) consecutively Exploring your work habits can be fun and it can be satisfying when you can find the one that works! Cheers
I'm glad I'm not alone in this. I've both tried and experimented with the Pomodoro method but at the end of the day, the energy I spent both shifting into break mode and forcing myself to shift out of it again meant that the breaks ended up being exhausting rather than invigorating. A lot of my colleagues have an easier time doing this and I'm sure the method would work for them but I'm not convinced that the method is right for those of us who have difficulties task-switching.
@@saraperlstein some people shifts faster than others, it probably relate to how long our attention span are. If you're going for long hours session, the first hour is crucial to build momentum. You can start with the lightest task of the day and build throughout the day. Or you can start big and feel powerful for the rest of the day.
@@gerrysnatabraja Thanks for the tip! I generally lean toward the former depending on the task. If applicable I'll start the day with scheduling as sort of a warmup activity.
@@saraperlstein I lean towards the latter since I'm quite impatient, but when things are crowded, I also schedule first as a warmup. Glad to know that it's working for you. Thanks for sharing!
After so many videos about studying techniques, you should definitely talk about grades. As a med student, I always try to not get destroyed by them. P.s. Greetings from Brazil
Relating to what you said about using a physical timer; I found that those "study with me" pomodoro videos help me a lot, maybe similar to how it can even be fun to do chores if it's with a friend or i'm just weird idk, but whatever works for me...
I'm first year dental student and I always enjoy your content. Whenever I feel tired this is the first place I visit! You always put out a high quality content and I know how much time you put into it so, thanks a lot. 🖤
I use Pomodoro for work because I do office style work from home which includes a lot of projects and distractions (especially since my family is home most of the time too), and oh my goodness, your tips are excellent. This is going to be so useful. Really appreciate the content.
Your video was GREAT! I just couldn't decide what would be the right time for me in a POMODORO session, this video helped me a lot, and now mine is 50/10! Also, this is my first ever video on "PRODUCTIVITY" that I watched till the end & didn't skip a part! Thank you!❤
Of course no one is talking about the reverse pomodoro method ! It is my favorite ! And so pleasant ! You pretend to work for five minutes by gazing at a book, then you watch cat videos on TH-cam for 25 minutes ! 😻😺😸 My life is so filled with joy now, and my brain feels so rested ! 😀🥳✌️ Vive le pomodoro ! 👍
i like your idea for the flow state, as someone with adhd if i enter it im done for the day i won't do anything else from the moment i enter till the moment i get out, that's actually one of the reason i use the pomodoro method. to prevent the flow state from happening and being completly obsessed with the task at hand. but your method of just extending the timer is a really nice one, it prevent the full drift and still allow you to stay a liitle longer. ill definitly use that one thanks
when I have an in office day, I like to do longer concentrated sessions cause 20/25 min is too short and the break interrupts me. So I do 45 and 10 usually, sometimes longer breaks if necessary. If I feel overwhelmed or super stressed wirh the work amount, I do shorter sessions to make it more accomplishable 😊 Sometimes I feel bad cause I "can't" do the same anount every day, but oh well, so is life 😌
As a student, I first started with 25/5 promodoro sessions, but it made my attention span very low. Because of that I had a problem giving tests which were 3 hrs. Now I use 45/15 promodoro sessions, and my attention span is bearable for exams now 😂.
What are you studying? Im doing engineering and i find the exact same 45/15 time sessions perfect, i cant use 25/5, time is not enough, it breaks the flow so much
When I was in like 4th to 9th grade, our class lengths would be 45 or 50 minutes with 10 or 15 minute breaks, even if we had the same class twice in a row. It was generally 50/10 in 10th-12th grade, and at uni sometimes that sometimes hours in a row before a break. The 45-50/15-10 has always seemed pretty great for school classes.
@@sakanagakyoko I'm going to give the medical entrance exam next month. 🤞🏼Wish me luck. Yeah, u are right it not only breaks the flow but it's hard to sit back after having fun for 5 mins. Given, that I have to study for at least 7-8 hours, it's not possible to break my flow and start all over every 25-30 mins. It will decrease my productivity.
OMG thank you so much. I think in many videos studying is more prioritised than mental health and Im so glad that you also point out to also care about that. Before, I was able to keep up one maybe two days with this method leaving me in the evening totally burned out, but this video helped a lot.
This method really doesn't do for me, but the things you mentioned make it a lot better. Once I wake up I need to do all my responsibilities and studies right away, if I open youtube, instagram or see my phone just once my concentration for the entire day is gone and I end up doing only the urgent things just before midnight and only watch youtube all day long. So instead of taking breaks, I just study and if I get tired I jump into another responsability, like doing dishes, brushing my cat, taking the dogs for a walk and tasks that are short and don't lead into other distractions (if I start sewing damaged clothes I would start going throw my closet, try clothes on, see old books from school or organize my closet, so it's not useful as a break). That way I change between resting my brain and resting my body while working my brain. Also, sometimes it takes a while to organize my books, notes and things before I actually start reading/studying. And sometimes after reading a chapter I want to rest or I read 40 pages without needing to rest, so having an alarm interrupt my concentration is not ideal. I just function in my own caos and get the job done somehow, but I have good grades.
This is the first video I’ve seen from you, and I can’t express how much I enjoyed it. You’re very good at holding the attention of the viewer with the way you speak, and all of your advice was great! Thank you so much for these tips!
It worked so well for me until I started making those mistakes, thank you for these tips I feel motivated again to work on my consistency so I can keep working even when not feeling as great. Really needed all of this as I keep avoiding my problems :/ 😌
Great video. I used classical conditioning in graduate school to great benefit. I had one desk in one room for studying. I was lucky enough to have that space, but you could do in with one desk and one laptop or whatever. When I sat down at that desk, I was able to totally focus, which is pretty amazing, having ADHD. When I took a break, I left the room.
I created an ASMR playlist for myself strictly for studying. There is a lot of study w/me, or "background noise" ASMR videos out there. Once I start the playlist and Pomodoro timer, my brain knows what's up. It's weird, it's like I get in the zone (lol not Autozone - probably a reference no one will get ).. ASMR really helps me on tough subjects too! It helps keep my stress at bay and I'll absorb information better. It's pretty freakin' amazing. For tough subjects, I use the shorter 25/5 intervals, again because it helps me manage stress.. but if I'm in a flow state I restart my timer as you said.
it's interesting to see how many of these I already do! When I'm in a flow state or only have the tiniest bit more to study in a topic, i go over and just take a little bit longer of a break afterwards, but it never occured to me to just start the next session! :)
I loved my forest app during vet school. It was super helpful to keep me focused. I used it on my computer too to stop my from checking social media or getting distracted by emails or Amazon.
I've actually stumbled upon your channel looking for pomodoro timers. I was wondering why I couldn't ever focus even with this method. I realized that I can't study to anything with a beat. I've been listening to lofi hip hop pomodoro timers and couldn't focus. I found one of your ambient music playlists with a pomodoro timer which I'm extremely thankful for because there isn't a lot out there. I've been able to study for 4 hours straight using your pomodoro ambient playlists.
It's not about specific times, it's more about regular breaks. I do 3-4 X 45min sessions with a 15 min proper break (eg lying down listening to relaxing music, definitely not scrolling through phone/internet), followed by lunch of maybe 1 hour then repeat. Expect to get through 10-12 sessions in a day. During the sessions I take notes (instead of cards) then for the first 5 mins of the following session I quickly re-read the previous session's notes and underline the most relevant words/phrases in red pen. For the last session of the day I will re-read the full days notes 10 sessions), but just skip through the underlined bits so that it's much faster. Then for the first session of the following day, I will repeat this note re-reading (underlined passages only) for all of the previous day's notes to cement the learning process. And at the end of the week, I'll devote 3-4 sessions to just re-reading the notes from the entire week. This process has worked pretty well for me with the added bonus that it feels good to see the notes stack up as evidence of my work.
Breaking the Flow state is actually a feature of the Pomodoro Technique, not a bug. Because Flow often leads to tunnel vision and a quick break can spark new insights. However, when you're in the middle of a though it doesn't make sense to interrupt it artificially.
I definitely have to use longer sessions for Pomodoro. I rarely can finish a single task in a 25 minute block. 30/5 sometimes is okay, but I find 50/10 or even 75/15 (if I’m having to draft something) more useable for the kind of work I do.
Thanks for this. As a 46yr old blue collar worker, I'm just looking for way to organize my time ( especially on the weekday evenings) to be able to read books, learn topically for self improvement etc. I feel this was be very beneficial for those goals. 👍🏾
These are just what i found helpful, IF any other people read this, don't.. make your own notes, summary is always bad if you haven't done the whole thing! 1. Plan - What things to study? In what order? How many total Pomodoro sessions? 2. Personalize - 50/10 minute then 50/20-30 or 35/7 minute and 35/7 minute and 35/20-30 or 25/5 25/5 25/5 and 25/20-30.. just what works best 3. Physical Pomodoro timer 4. Music - Just depends on you if you want to
For people who are looking for ways to boost their productivity, check out how developers stay focused. We actually have the opposite problem of being too focused. Which is why I’m hoping the pomodoro method will help me take breaks more often.
Cleared about a lot of issues I faced while using pomodoro technique. One question I have in my mind is what if we feel tired in between a pomodoro?? Should I push through the current pomodoro session or just stop the timer and take a break. Absolutely great video Zach!!👌👌
One possibility would be to reverse what he said about the flow state, and take a break early, adding on the missing study time to a future study block. The more simple solution would be to use shorter study and break intervals if the current one takes too long.
I honestly noticed after using the pomodoro method for over a year how naturally you just start experimenting with each session and seeing what works best for you. Somewhere along the lines I use to do 45 minutes and a 15 minutes break, but found I always found that anything over 10 minutes for a break kicks me out of that state for studying, so I kept it at 10 minutes and upped the study time to 60 minutes. However I use to think the 10 minutes break was mandatory, and force myself out of that focus mood to do something for 10 minutes. The pomodoro method is surprisingly flexible to each individual, so anytime I really am in that study focus, even after the 60 minutes is up I just keep going until I do start to lose that focus and then go on a 10 minutes break.
I use Pomodoro for work mostly. I found that 90 min sessions work for me best and then I take a longer break of 30 min. I used to stick to the 25 min sessions, but I found that it interrupts my flow. I also low Session App for the timer and analytics. You can categorize Pomodoros and also connect to Google calendar. There’s also analytics feature to see your performance which I find pretty cool.
This was so validating because I already do almost all of these things except for using a physical pomodoro timer. The technique as a whole changed how I approach productivity! Interestingly enough, I have the same approach to music intensity, but I lump lofi and coffee shop jazz with ambient music
I can recommend the timer Zach has. I have the same one. Mine is blue. I bought it off Amazon, the main selling point is that it is SILENT. And if you want to see how much time is left on it, all you have to do is glance at it.
This is really helpful! I've always wanted to try this technique, but knew I would have to adjust it as my current project is predominantly code based. 25 minutes just isn't enough to get anything done and taking a break would sigificantly disrupt the flow of my work. I'm going to give the 50/10 a try today!
I have a very good tip about studying and music. I absolutely can't study without some noise to disturb me. But, since I'm a bass player, depending on what I'm listening, I can't focus at all. If it's something complex like Tom Sawyer from Rush... But if it's some AC/DC... Classical music and Jazz could mess with your focus too. My best tip is to use Video Games Soundtracks. I Use the Soundtrack from the game Age of Mythologies. The game was a huge crap, but the soundtrack is superb! Video games Music are designed to be repetitive, not intrusive and not annoying.
Thank you so much for making this video!! I think these tips are going to really help me out since I struggle with staying focused, so I really appreciate you sharing them. 🥰💗
Great video and I learned a lot and feel excited to start. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. I liked the video and subscribed to the channel.
ive been doing this for years. thanks for sharing to a wider audience :) i don’t do the breaks in between. i keep going and take a break when i need to eat or go outside, run an errand, take a walk, relax etc. the timer, however keeps me on track and hyper focused. like a contestant on a cooking competition. and im able to reward my brain when the timer goes off like, “wow, i did all that in 20min??” maybe there will be 1 or 2 times the timer will go off and i realized i was distracted towards the end or half the time. that’s when ik a break is approaching. that flow state is key. once i have that trust in my performance, and see the day going hours into doing my deep work- i’ll lengthen the timer to 30-45min. hope that helps ! i been meaning to get a physical timer for way too long now - getting on amazon ASAP !
Well yes, figure out the focus time you have yourself. It does not have to be 25-5. But it should be consistent after a while. If you do 25-5 on one day, then 35-7 the next, and 50-10 the next day, you will not get used to it, which is (in my eyes) a large part of the pomodoro technic; having a fixed structure during studying.
I don't like pomodoro method. When I'm in a study/work mood, I wanna stay in that mood. Otherwise, if I take a break, I'm gonna be out of that mood and will have a hard time coming back. The only time I take a break is when I'm satisfied with what I've accomplished that day/time. Great explanation though ❤️
Tysm for this video. I think I have ADHD and it's really hard for me to study properly. I'll get distracted constantly even when I'm trying to use the pomodoro method because it's just so completely draining and difficult for me to keep working on my stuff. But hopefully these points will help me be more productive
I definitely found that about a 45:10 interval was best for me while studying. I actually didn't time it so much as I'd follow with a real-time study with me and then take a break when it finished or I couldn't concentrate anymore.
Really important pro tip: the pomodoro technique needs to be based on how long YOU can stay focused. Time yourself a few times for how long it takes for your mind to wander. Usually if you find yourself re-reading the same paragraph or page or sentence for the 3rd time, having absorbed almost none of it, then you need to take a break. You're not focused on what you're doing. Once you've got a good sense of how long that is, set your pomodoro time to that. Also, the breaks should be breaks. They're not "get lost on Facebook" or "read an article instead". Get up and move around a bit, try not to think too much, let your eyes relax and stare at distant objects (20+ feet or 6+meters). Doing this will help you reset and refocus, rather than just dragging your brain from one thing to another.
Eventually your pomodoro length can be increased. But trying to stay focused for 25 minutes or 50 minutes when you can really only focus for 6 or 7 minutes... not effective.
Oh my goodness I use the tree pomodoro too and it definitely helps me focus better! I also didn't want my tree to die XD These tips are really helpful, thank you :)
Thanks for the great video and tips to share with us ❤ In my opinion, in Pomodoro method, 5 minutes of rest is a short time, If I want to take two deep breaths, it will take 5 minutes. 😑
One thing I found with this method is 20-25 minutes isn't long enough to get any real studying in and ultimately breaks my focus. I'll get invested in something else then all the sudden the 5 minutes are up and now I'm more focused on what I did in the 5 minutes rather than focusing on work. I've found (if you're going to be studying most of the day) is break tasks into 90 minutes. So for me I'd do 90 minutes of Chem, 90 minutes of organic chem, 90 minutes in the gym, 90 minutes of math, 90 minutes of bio, then 90 minutes of whatever I wanted. It breaks it into a 9 hour period and I'm not stuck on just one thing
Nice video. I've experimented with the Pomodoro method in the past with varying degrees of success. I'm going to use some of these tips and have another go. 😀
not me watching this in my pomodoro break... also on the music point - i always and forever listen to rain ASMR, i've found it is the best way to study and not get distracted especially when living in busy areas
thank you for your videos. It makes me realized I should put off time from my computer because it will be like exams, when we don't know time, we try to stay focus and to speed before timer rings About music I think it can be a good idea to listen an epic music at beginning but just for some seconds, the goal is to incite to start our session and to open books / computer (sorry for my mistakes )
My writing group does what we call the step ladder pomodoros. 5 to 10 minute breaks in between sessions but the timing would build up each time, hit a peak, and then back down. 10, 15, 20, 15, 10. If I needed a full day of writing done, I'd either do broken step ladders (smaller increments) or do one large one with the biggest session being 45 or 60 minutes with an hour break following the top session before going back down. It's the idea that for creative things the more you work the more you find you're capable of accomplishing, but that you eventually lose momentum as you work. I've gotten 10k+ words days that way and it works for me, with my ADHD brain that sometimes only 10 minutes is all I can do.
I think music is a very individual thing. I personally like to begin with music, it helps me to start focusing. When I am focused on something difficult then I will want to turn it off after a few initial minutes. And then do that. When I have to get something easy done then music keeps me going. I am less likely to end before I am done or get frustrated when I start with music.
I used to do 27 mins of studying in silence and one song as a break in upper secondary school. I think music works almost like a stimulant, but it's only one song so I wouldn't get sucked in for 'one more'.
Loved these tipps. It's so diffrent for my boyfriend and I, he does the 25/5 most of the times, while I prefer 45/15 or 50/5. For our TH-cam-Pomodoro-Videos we decided to do 25/5 mostly, because as you said somehow that is what most people do. For me the thing I benefit the most from are the breaks :D If I didn't use the Pomodoro method, I'd do way less breaks and forget to drink, eat and move. Which in the end would make me quit earlier. Anyway, thanks for the video, some great inspiration to re-think the way I use the method for my work :)
I think you need to make sure you do break the flow state at least once per hour just to prevent RSI, eye problems and move around, remember to drink water etc. I have a problem with hyperfocusing sometimes and need to have the reminder to take a break. I think the advice to restart the timer but add the break time on the end is good - then hopefully you wouldn't skip more than one break.
![4-Hour Quiet Ambient Music Study With Me [25/5 Pomodoro]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TdrkAEpE0aM/mqdefault.jpg)
When you said if you feel like you're in a flow state, don't stop studying. I absolutely love this advice! You aren't FORCED to take the break, It's like taking a break in a middle of a race, where you're literally going at your fastest. The structure the pomodoro provides is great, but feel free to break it every once in a while :)
Exactly! I really just take the method as an encouragement for myself. It is difficult for me to get started if I see myself studying for a few hours. I would get started if I plan a break, but then when I got started, I often go a few sessions without needing a rest.
I actually completely disagree. If I’m in a flow state and take a break in between deliberately I find that the flow state gets extended, simple because if you are motivated to study before the break resuming it after the break is so much more easier and relaxing. For eg, say I study for 25 minutes and am still in the flow state to study another 10 minutes, if I take a 5 minute break I can study for another 25 minutes with the flow state, therefore extending it and not taking a risk whether the flow state will get recharged.
@@dwightschrute4750 Maybe for you but for me it disrupts everything
@@dwightschrute4750 a break during flow ruins everything for me. It might be adhd related, but once I lose focus, I struggle tremendously to regain it.
My issue is when I'm ina flow state it can literally last until I crash, such as for dozens of hours. But if I break that flow, it's broken... forever. And I can't get it back.
Can I just say - as a med student suffering from anxiety (shocking I know), music (especially lofi or classical) just helps me to relax and slow my heart-rate. So maybe it doesn't directly help with concentration, it might help it indirectly.
It's not shocking, but- unfortunately - it's very common these days... I have the same issue. Wishing us the best 😊🤞
@@lady0shady Yes, I meant it as a sarcasm. So many of my friends, including me, are taking medication like benzos to help with anxiety and stress levels during exam period. 😔
@@BedeliaMikk oh dear.
I'm a psychology student and I suffer with anxiety too (kind of ironic). I agree with you though, but I listen to classical music.
Same for engineering students as well
I have adhd so I find studying without music detrimental lol. But changing the times for sessions was the trick I was looking for! The 30 or 25m was so so difficult to stick to, I found my attention always fizzling out. But 15 minutes with 5 minute breaks has had me more productive than ever in my life. And if I get in a flow state (which I do more often now!) I just go for longer.
The exact same thing goes for me too :)
I always felt so guilty for cutting the 25 minutes down to 15 but I really have no other choice if I want to actually use the study sessions properly
Also adhd here, and I definitely need the shorter sessions, and even if it’s a lot of breaks, I need to be able to know I’ll be done soon (I usually go for 15 minutes at first, then I might increase to 20 minutes, but I can’t do more usually)
And if I do go into hyperfocus I usually don’t even notice the alarm lol
@@JC-ud9yb it’s honestly such a great way to trigger hyper focus for something I actually should be focusing on without the usual resistance I find to doing what I’m supposed to do.
Telling myself “well it’s only 15 minutes” makes the transition to a task so much smoother
I don't have ADHD and my ability to concentrate has been described as "very good", but 30 minutes is definitely too long for me as well. 15-20 minutes works and I usually take a longer break after 3 sessions.
i can only study for either 30 minutes at a time or 4 hours at a time. it’s wikd
As someone who SWEARS by the POMODORO method to help me learn languages I realized that I wasn’t always using it correctly in the beginning. Love that you found clever ways to enhance it I’ll definitely be using them! 🙏🏽
Pomodoro is GOAT, I will always use it
I keep on seeing you everywhere I go in the TH-cam comments haha. Mainly from Rachel Southard. Keep it up, you got this!
why are you everywhere
you are in every study video and lofi video comment section 🤨🤨
Did I see you on Hamza's channel too, or am I seeing things? I swear i see you everywhere. By proxy, that means I'm everywhere too 🥲
I used to hate studying, but Zach made me become obsessed with studying lol
thanks Zach! 😊
Studying is life (for now)
I adjusted Pomodoro to do it in the 50/10 style (then every 3rd hour the break is 30mins) and it has been an absolute GAME CHANGER. I always thought I learned slowly but I was just studying in the wrong increments
I used the Pomodoro Method this past weekend to complete a big project, but I found it more effective to about halve the time. So it was more like a 12-13 minute work session and then a 2-3 minute break. This worked well because I broke the project into LOTS of small chunks, and I wasn't too concerned about deep focus, since it wasn't particularly difficult; I was much more concerned about just sticking with it and getting through it, and the smaller sessions were very helpful for that.
I've never ever been able to use the Pomodoro method because I hate that the break is only 5/10/whatever way too short amount of minutes it is compared to way too long studying. Generally I study one subject until I complete one task (which I decide beforehand, like I have to write an essay, so I'm going to write the first page), see how long it took me to do that task, then take a break for the same amount of time. IDC if people say this isn't productive. This is what worked for me throughout all of high school and college. If I didn't do it like this, I would've gone insane.
Honestly that’s how I’ve been studying when I do study, just that I take longer breaks than I study hehe but now that you’ve said this, I might just do that too! Like if I study for 40 minutes, I get 40 minutes of rest. Even better if I rest lesser than 40 minutes.
Wow that honestly sounds so nice and restful 😭😭😭 i usually have to study 13-14 hours a day so it would be literally impossible for me to do that i-
You are the definition of work hard, play hard
@@ayushiroy2944 13-14???? is that including school? because that sounds genuinely painful
I passed my Secondary Teacher State Exam (Oposiciones) last June, at 41, so I am officially a civil servant in Spain and will have a job for life. It all started with your beautiful, fun and useful videos so: THANK YOU.
Congrats!
. plan your session
. if you finish in the middle of the session, continue with your next task
. decide on the number of pomodoro sessions per day
. don't pressure yourself to be productive even during breaks. it's okay to take long breaks after say 2-3 hours of cumulative studying
. if you're in the flow state, don't take a break even if the session ends. keep going
. use a physical timer cause if you use your device, you might get distracted
. eliminate distractions. everything you don't need on the table, take it out.
. when you're studying, sign out of all your accounts so even if you get distracted you won't be able to visit those sites; you'll be forced to come back to studying
. classical conditioning: use one sensory experience only and completely for studying (one kinda music, one kinda noise, a separate account for study purposes, a separate place to study)
. soft music with no lyrics helps with easy tasks. all kinds of music harm focus while working on hard tasks. use music only if you feel really out of focus and once you get in the zone, you won't need it anymore
. take good breaks: go out, exercise, eat healthy, nap, meditate, clean, engage in a hobby, socialise
. gamify your learning: reward yourself for your progress and punish for failures
go outside
go exercise
change position
healthy snack
meditate
clean up
play with a pet
play an instrument
talk to a friend
look out the window
short nap
watch yt
Thanks for this🤗💝
tHANK YOU SO MUCH
bro took notes
I have ADHD and sometimes it’s very difficult for me to start working on a task. When the paralysis happens, I aim for a 25/5 session, convincing myself that I have to work for only 25 minutes. More often than not, I enter the flow state before 25 minutes, and so I instantly extend the session into 50/10.
Same.
I will try this today 😂
I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I thought I was done with "how to study" videos, but I learned a lot, particularly extending your pomodoro session when in the flow state and the 20-30min breaks after a cumulative 100mins of studying. Loved the editing and background music choice as well.👍🏾 Thank you!
I use white noise instead of music. It helps to drown out the noise of others, you quickly forget about it, and it triggers study mode for me after using it a few times.
yeah white noise is great, I also like rain noise
I have to try it 🤔
What about peeing noise ?
@@miyamotomasao3636 bruh
@@kqlys7845
From a psychological perspective, it is probably one of the most satisfying noises in a man's life, especially when a bladder is full.
Recordings of strong flows associated with a joyful sigh of relief should be cut and pasted into a pomodoro friendly 25 minute video, and its effect scientifically tested on male brains.
Who knows ? It could work ! 🥳
When working in a 4 hour study block, I personally like to use 50/ 10, 50/10, 50/10, 45/15. I started with 25/5 but I found myself actually not wanting to take a break, much less that often. I’ve also noticed towards my last hour, I am feeling tired so hence the 45/15 change. This works for me and helps me achieve more with more dedicated study time, but also enjoy the longer break without feeling like the 5 minutes isn’t long enough at all.
Occasionally I will use 25/5 towards the end of my study block, but at that point, it’s because I don’t want to study and want to take those breaks more often and study less interestingly enough. So I have a negative experience with shorter work intervals and associate them with my lack of desire to study.
You go 50/10 two times
Take long break
And then again 50/10 two times
Rather than going 50/10 three times and disrupting the 4th one
I agree, that's why I study 90 mins in a row, then take approximately a half-hour break. Because when I'm in my flow state I can study for like 3 hours without brak so I prefer longer sessions with longer breaks
9:01 for a less extreme version of this, i use chrome and if you left click the tabs you are using to study and move them to another window, it keeps call your other tabs open but out of your eye line whilst you study. also, you could hide the apps bar on your laptop if you have one so u are less likeley to get distracted
if you use windows you also have the option to open a new desktop. That helps in a similar manner too
It is such a misconception that you have to stop when your pomodoro session is complete. It is important to take breaks, but not at the detriment of interrupting your flow which you have worked so hard to get into! Accountability groups can help you to stay focused during these sessions too!
Yeah. I somehow can’t follow that kind of a pomodoro session. If I’m reading a particular topic and if it’s an important one that I’ve built a great deal of concentration to focus on it, I make sure to complete it before taking a break. Even if it takes me 3-4 hours or more at a stretch, I complete it and then take a break. I’ve tried otherwise and feel that if I take a break in between and then come back, I lose the focus I had built. I would then need to go back a few pages and that would lead me to waste even more time.
@@AishiBhattacharyaOfficial So true! Perfect example!
On the music thing: tiny sounds in the background distract me severely, so listening to some sort of background music or even ambiance on noise canceling headphones is beneficial because it removes distractions.
I’m similar
Great video! I've been using Pomodoros as a grad student for a while now, but it's always nice to gain another perspective. I'm always telling others to adjust the specific study/break times to what works best for them, so it was cool to hear you say that. I usually work in 45/15 study/break sessions, but I sneak in a quick cleaning chore during the break. New sub, but it looks like you recommend that, too. Online students especially tend to study from home, so you're already there. What's great is sneaking in a quick chore during a break means less to do later. No one likes to clean forever--especially if you've been studying all day. Starting the dishwasher, starting a load of laundry, folding a load of laundry, etc. are all quick things you can do on a break. It gets your blood flowing a bit, too. Then, you still have time to run to the bathroom or grab a quick snack. However someone decides to configure their "poms," the method does work. Thanks again, Zach, and I look forward to more of your content in the future. I'm sure you have more great advice!
I think there's something to be said for stopping even if you are in a flow state. IMO it makes it faster and easier to get to a flow state when you resume and makes you eager to get back to the task. It may also increase your stamina to maintain a flow state over a longer period because you are taking breaks. When you break in a flow state, your mind tends to continue to turn things over in the background, so it's a chance for some creative ideas to pop out.
I agree, I’ve done 25/5 and 50/10 for music practice and I generally learn better with 25/5 sessions and get into flow more often with the 25/5 split as well. My scores on recent exams were about 10% higher using a 25/5 split vs 50/10
Great video! Extra little tip: if you're a bit stuck on something when the end of your pomodoro session beeps, KEEP GOING just long enough to get past the thing you're stuck on. Once you're at a place where you know what you're doing, stop and take your break. This will make it much easier to start your next session, because you've removed the friction. Zach mentions something like this in another video, where he says you shouldn't finish a flashcard session on a failed card - only finish when you've just got a card right.
Great video! I'll be applying these tips for sure!
Just a small note, as a psychology student, it was very weird to see Sigmund Freud on the corner when you were talking about classical conditioning. Maybe no one will notice and I get he's a familiar face from psychology, but I think there's more important figures related to the topic (like Skinner, Watson or Pavlov, you got that one right) and would be good to talk about them instead of giving credit to a dude that had nothing to do with this
Most psychology students are very neurotic and should do a psychoanalysis instead of studying psychology in college, and later ruining their patients lives by projecting their neurosis on them.
But their strong neurotic defenses prevent them from doing the right choice.
I'd love to see a cute, drooling dog in the corner instead. Sorry Pavlov
@@miyamotomasao3636 u good?
@@miyamotomasao3636 It sounds like you are talking about your own life or someone you think is cool told you this 'true fact about psych students'
@@raapyna8544
OKTroomer ! 🖕
Thank you! I've been looking for videos to help with Pomodoro planning, and this helped a lot with breaking it down. How to ADHD's video about Pomodoro was my first introduction.
As someone with ADHD, though, music is a MUST with this method. It helps cut down on any auditory distractions, like ticking clocks, dogs barking, sirens, wind chimes, etc. I can't focus if I don't have a sensory input that's predictable. I have premade playlists to cut down on music setup time, but I need some form of music to help me with this. From least to most input strength I have:
• Ambient noises (like rain storms)
• Orchestral, non cinema
• Movie Soundtracks
• Folk music, more story-based than emotion-heavy
• Movies and Musicals (stuff that I know by heart, so it's not as distracting)
• Whatever is in my current playlist
For the most meanial tasks, I'll watch TH-cam videos or listen to podcasts that are shorter than my Pomodoro session. I use it more for everyday tasks and projects than actual studying, but I use it for studying as well
The thing I learned from using Pomodoro method is it doesn't worked that well with me, due to my inability to shift mentality and focus fast. For reference, I do architecture, design, and music, and the tasks are pretty hard to divide during the concepting / pre-production phases, because they're such holistic and comprehensive tasks. I can plan the research and drawing/production phases, but in only consist 30-40% of the works.So, I use time blocking instead, where in certain time, I do certain things (i.e from 7 am to 12 am, I concept).
For similar cases, but have already comfortable with Pomodoro method, I suggest;
(1) try longer sessions for bigger and comprehensive tasks (ex : concepting, composing, designing)
(2) disrupt your routine if things get boring (vary duration, change pace, change place)
(3) personalize, know how your pace and acceleration works (do you divide each sessions the same or you start slow first)
(4) commit and consistent, try it for a month (workdays) consecutively
Exploring your work habits can be fun and it can be satisfying when you can find the one that works! Cheers
I'm glad I'm not alone in this. I've both tried and experimented with the Pomodoro method but at the end of the day, the energy I spent both shifting into break mode and forcing myself to shift out of it again meant that the breaks ended up being exhausting rather than invigorating. A lot of my colleagues have an easier time doing this and I'm sure the method would work for them but I'm not convinced that the method is right for those of us who have difficulties task-switching.
@@saraperlstein some people shifts faster than others, it probably relate to how long our attention span are. If you're going for long hours session, the first hour is crucial to build momentum. You can start with the lightest task of the day and build throughout the day. Or you can start big and feel powerful for the rest of the day.
@@gerrysnatabraja Thanks for the tip! I generally lean toward the former depending on the task. If applicable I'll start the day with scheduling as sort of a warmup activity.
@@saraperlstein I lean towards the latter since I'm quite impatient, but when things are crowded, I also schedule first as a warmup. Glad to know that it's working for you. Thanks for sharing!
After so many videos about studying techniques, you should definitely talk about grades. As a med student, I always try to not get destroyed by them. P.s. Greetings from Brazil
Relating to what you said about using a physical timer; I found that those "study with me" pomodoro videos help me a lot, maybe similar to how it can even be fun to do chores if it's with a friend
or i'm just weird idk, but whatever works for me...
I'm first year dental student and I always enjoy your content. Whenever I feel tired this is the first place I visit! You always put out a high quality content and I know how much time you put into it so, thanks a lot. 🖤
Absolutely loved this video - I'm not studying, but as a creative, i sometimes struggle for focus, and this method is perfect
I use Pomodoro for work because I do office style work from home which includes a lot of projects and distractions (especially since my family is home most of the time too), and oh my goodness, your tips are excellent. This is going to be so useful. Really appreciate the content.
Your video was GREAT! I just couldn't decide what would be the right time for me in a POMODORO session, this video helped me a lot, and now mine is 50/10! Also, this is my first ever video on "PRODUCTIVITY" that I watched till the end & didn't skip a part! Thank you!❤
Of course no one is talking about the reverse pomodoro method !
It is my favorite !
And so pleasant !
You pretend to work for five minutes by gazing at a book, then you watch cat videos on TH-cam for 25 minutes ! 😻😺😸
My life is so filled with joy now, and my brain feels so rested ! 😀🥳✌️
Vive le pomodoro ! 👍
i like your idea for the flow state, as someone with adhd if i enter it im done for the day i won't do anything else from the moment i enter till the moment i get out, that's actually one of the reason i use the pomodoro method. to prevent the flow state from happening and being completly obsessed with the task at hand.
but your method of just extending the timer is a really nice one, it prevent the full drift and still allow you to stay a liitle longer. ill definitly use that one thanks
After watching countless videos that all say the same things it’s nice to find ones that actually provide new info! Keep it up man, earned a sub
when I have an in office day, I like to do longer concentrated sessions cause 20/25 min is too short and the break interrupts me. So I do 45 and 10 usually, sometimes longer breaks if necessary. If I feel overwhelmed or super stressed wirh the work amount, I do shorter sessions to make it more accomplishable 😊
Sometimes I feel bad cause I "can't" do the same anount every day, but oh well, so is life 😌
As a student, I first started with 25/5 promodoro sessions, but it made my attention span very low. Because of that I had a problem giving tests which were 3 hrs.
Now I use 45/15 promodoro sessions, and my attention span is bearable for exams now 😂.
What are you studying? Im doing engineering and i find the exact same 45/15 time sessions perfect, i cant use 25/5, time is not enough, it breaks the flow so much
When I was in like 4th to 9th grade, our class lengths would be 45 or 50 minutes with 10 or 15 minute breaks, even if we had the same class twice in a row. It was generally 50/10 in 10th-12th grade, and at uni sometimes that sometimes hours in a row before a break. The 45-50/15-10 has always seemed pretty great for school classes.
@@Call-me-Al Very true.
@@sakanagakyoko I'm going to give the medical entrance exam next month. 🤞🏼Wish me luck.
Yeah, u are right it not only breaks the flow but it's hard to sit back after having fun for 5 mins. Given, that I have to study for at least 7-8 hours, it's not possible to break my flow and start all over every 25-30 mins. It will decrease my productivity.
@@sakanagakyoko Now that I have a very important exam next month, I am doing 3hrs promodoro session 🤷🏽♀️
The amount of work and time Zach puts into doing the videos and his page thing is insane 😯thank you for such quality work and tips!!
OMG thank you so much. I think in many videos studying is more prioritised than mental health and Im so glad that you also point out to also care about that. Before, I was able to keep up one maybe two days with this method leaving me in the evening totally burned out, but this video helped a lot.
This method really doesn't do for me, but the things you mentioned make it a lot better. Once I wake up I need to do all my responsibilities and studies right away, if I open youtube, instagram or see my phone just once my concentration for the entire day is gone and I end up doing only the urgent things just before midnight and only watch youtube all day long.
So instead of taking breaks, I just study and if I get tired I jump into another responsability, like doing dishes, brushing my cat, taking the dogs for a walk and tasks that are short and don't lead into other distractions (if I start sewing damaged clothes I would start going throw my closet, try clothes on, see old books from school or organize my closet, so it's not useful as a break). That way I change between resting my brain and resting my body while working my brain.
Also, sometimes it takes a while to organize my books, notes and things before I actually start reading/studying. And sometimes after reading a chapter I want to rest or I read 40 pages without needing to rest, so having an alarm interrupt my concentration is not ideal. I just function in my own caos and get the job done somehow, but I have good grades.
This is the first video I’ve seen from you, and I can’t express how much I enjoyed it. You’re very good at holding the attention of the viewer with the way you speak, and all of your advice was great! Thank you so much for these tips!
It worked so well for me until I started making those mistakes, thank you for these tips I feel motivated again to work on my consistency so I can keep working even when not feeling as great. Really needed all of this as I keep avoiding my problems :/ 😌
Thanks for this! After two years of working from home, I found myself losing focus too often. Using Pomodoro in this way really made a difference!
Great video. I used classical conditioning in graduate school to great benefit. I had one desk in one room for studying. I was lucky enough to have that space, but you could do in with one desk and one laptop or whatever. When I sat down at that desk, I was able to totally focus, which is pretty amazing, having ADHD. When I took a break, I left the room.
I created an ASMR playlist for myself strictly for studying. There is a lot of study w/me, or "background noise" ASMR videos out there. Once I start the playlist and Pomodoro timer, my brain knows what's up. It's weird, it's like I get in the zone (lol not Autozone - probably a reference no one will get ).. ASMR really helps me on tough subjects too! It helps keep my stress at bay and I'll absorb information better. It's pretty freakin' amazing. For tough subjects, I use the shorter 25/5 intervals, again because it helps me manage stress.. but if I'm in a flow state I restart my timer as you said.
it's interesting to see how many of these I already do! When I'm in a flow state or only have the tiniest bit more to study in a topic, i go over and just take a little bit longer of a break afterwards, but it never occured to me to just start the next session! :)
I loved my forest app during vet school. It was super helpful to keep me focused. I used it on my computer too to stop my from checking social media or getting distracted by emails or Amazon.
I've actually stumbled upon your channel looking for pomodoro timers. I was wondering why I couldn't ever focus even with this method. I realized that I can't study to anything with a beat. I've been listening to lofi hip hop pomodoro timers and couldn't focus. I found one of your ambient music playlists with a pomodoro timer which I'm extremely thankful for because there isn't a lot out there. I've been able to study for 4 hours straight using your pomodoro ambient playlists.
It's not about specific times, it's more about regular breaks. I do 3-4 X 45min sessions with a 15 min proper break (eg lying down listening to relaxing music, definitely not scrolling through phone/internet), followed by lunch of maybe 1 hour then repeat. Expect to get through 10-12 sessions in a day.
During the sessions I take notes (instead of cards) then for the first 5 mins of the following session I quickly re-read the previous session's notes and underline the most relevant words/phrases in red pen. For the last session of the day I will re-read the full days notes 10 sessions), but just skip through the underlined bits so that it's much faster. Then for the first session of the following day, I will repeat this note re-reading (underlined passages only) for all of the previous day's notes to cement the learning process. And at the end of the week, I'll devote 3-4 sessions to just re-reading the notes from the entire week. This process has worked pretty well for me with the added bonus that it feels good to see the notes stack up as evidence of my work.
Breaking the Flow state is actually a feature of the Pomodoro Technique, not a bug. Because Flow often leads to tunnel vision and a quick break can spark new insights. However, when you're in the middle of a though it doesn't make sense to interrupt it artificially.
I definitely have to use longer sessions for Pomodoro. I rarely can finish a single task in a 25 minute block. 30/5 sometimes is okay, but I find 50/10 or even 75/15 (if I’m having to draft something) more useable for the kind of work I do.
Thanks for this. As a 46yr old blue collar worker, I'm just looking for way to organize my time ( especially on the weekday evenings) to be able to read books, learn topically for self improvement etc. I feel this was be very beneficial for those goals. 👍🏾
These are just what i found helpful, IF any other people read this, don't.. make your own notes, summary is always bad if you haven't done the whole thing!
1. Plan - What things to study? In what order? How many total Pomodoro sessions?
2. Personalize - 50/10 minute then 50/20-30 or 35/7 minute and 35/7 minute and 35/20-30 or 25/5 25/5 25/5 and 25/20-30.. just what works best
3. Physical Pomodoro timer
4. Music - Just depends on you if you want to
This was such a great video full of useful information. Thank you! Love the orange colors
I really needed this as I'm starting to get more dedicated with my Pomodoro sessions. Thank you!!
Another amazing video, Zach! Thanks for sharing with us! Cheers from Brazil!
For people who are looking for ways to boost their productivity, check out how developers stay focused. We actually have the opposite problem of being too focused. Which is why I’m hoping the pomodoro method will help me take breaks more often.
@Zach Highley Best thing I watched today. Thank you so much!
Thanks so much for those playlists, they are extremely useful!
Cleared about a lot of issues I faced while using pomodoro technique. One question I have in my mind is what if we feel tired in between a pomodoro?? Should I push through the current pomodoro session or just stop the timer and take a break.
Absolutely great video Zach!!👌👌
One possibility would be to reverse what he said about the flow state, and take a break early, adding on the missing study time to a future study block. The more simple solution would be to use shorter study and break intervals if the current one takes too long.
@@connor.patrick Yeah that seems like a great idea..
I honestly noticed after using the pomodoro method for over a year how naturally you just start experimenting with each session and seeing what works best for you. Somewhere along the lines I use to do 45 minutes and a 15 minutes break, but found I always found that anything over 10 minutes for a break kicks me out of that state for studying, so I kept it at 10 minutes and upped the study time to 60 minutes. However I use to think the 10 minutes
break was mandatory, and force myself out of that focus mood to do something for 10 minutes. The pomodoro method is surprisingly flexible to each individual, so anytime I really am in that study focus, even after the 60 minutes is up I just keep going until I do start to lose that focus and then go on a 10 minutes break.
GREAT content and the production quality is fantastic! Thank you for this!
Great tip and advice I've ever heard! Mental and physical well-being is important ❤️
I use Pomodoro for work mostly. I found that 90 min sessions work for me best and then I take a longer break of 30 min. I used to stick to the 25 min sessions, but I found that it interrupts my flow. I also low Session App for the timer and analytics. You can categorize Pomodoros and also connect to Google calendar. There’s also analytics feature to see your performance which I find pretty cool.
This was so validating because I already do almost all of these things except for using a physical pomodoro timer. The technique as a whole changed how I approach productivity! Interestingly enough, I have the same approach to music intensity, but I lump lofi and coffee shop jazz with ambient music
I can recommend the timer Zach has. I have the same one. Mine is blue. I bought it off Amazon, the main selling point is that it is SILENT. And if you want to see how much time is left on it, all you have to do is glance at it.
This is really helpful! I've always wanted to try this technique, but knew I would have to adjust it as my current project is predominantly code based. 25 minutes just isn't enough to get anything done and taking a break would sigificantly disrupt the flow of my work. I'm going to give the 50/10 a try today!
I have a very good tip about studying and music. I absolutely can't study without some noise to disturb me. But, since I'm a bass player, depending on what I'm listening, I can't focus at all. If it's something complex like Tom Sawyer from Rush... But if it's some AC/DC... Classical music and Jazz could mess with your focus too.
My best tip is to use Video Games Soundtracks. I Use the Soundtrack from the game Age of Mythologies. The game was a huge crap, but the soundtrack is superb! Video games Music are designed to be repetitive, not intrusive and not annoying.
Thank you so much for making this video!! I think these tips are going to really help me out since I struggle with staying focused, so I really appreciate you sharing them. 🥰💗
Great video and I learned a lot and feel excited to start. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. I liked the video and subscribed to the channel.
ive been doing this for years. thanks for sharing to a wider audience :) i don’t do the breaks in between. i keep going and take a break when i need to eat or go outside, run an errand, take a walk, relax etc. the timer, however keeps me on track and hyper focused. like a contestant on a cooking competition. and im able to reward my brain when the timer goes off like, “wow, i did all that in 20min??” maybe there will be 1 or 2 times the timer will go off and i realized i was distracted towards the end or half the time. that’s when ik a break is approaching. that flow state is key. once i have that trust in my performance, and see the day going hours into doing my deep work- i’ll lengthen the timer to 30-45min. hope that helps ! i been meaning to get a physical timer for way too long now - getting on amazon ASAP !
Well yes, figure out the focus time you have yourself. It does not have to be 25-5. But it should be consistent after a while. If you do 25-5 on one day, then 35-7 the next, and 50-10 the next day, you will not get used to it, which is (in my eyes) a large part of the pomodoro technic; having a fixed structure during studying.
Thank you for sharing the tips of Pomodoro Study. This will help me to improve my timer. Have a nice weekend! ❤❤❤
I don't like pomodoro method. When I'm in a study/work mood, I wanna stay in that mood. Otherwise, if I take a break, I'm gonna be out of that mood and will have a hard time coming back. The only time I take a break is when I'm satisfied with what I've accomplished that day/time.
Great explanation though ❤️
Really, really helpful tips, thanks so much Zach!!
this is the most wholesome pomodoro video i've ever watched thank you
Tysm for this video. I think I have ADHD and it's really hard for me to study properly. I'll get distracted constantly even when I'm trying to use the pomodoro method because it's just so completely draining and difficult for me to keep working on my stuff. But hopefully these points will help me be more productive
I really love your studying tips. They fit me well.
I definitely found that about a 45:10 interval was best for me while studying. I actually didn't time it so much as I'd follow with a real-time study with me and then take a break when it finished or I couldn't concentrate anymore.
Thanks Zach, will apply and come here after 1 month to say how I did
Great advice, Zach - thanks for sharing! Good luck to all my fellow students out there!!
Really important pro tip: the pomodoro technique needs to be based on how long YOU can stay focused.
Time yourself a few times for how long it takes for your mind to wander. Usually if you find yourself re-reading the same paragraph or page or sentence for the 3rd time, having absorbed almost none of it, then you need to take a break. You're not focused on what you're doing. Once you've got a good sense of how long that is, set your pomodoro time to that.
Also, the breaks should be breaks. They're not "get lost on Facebook" or "read an article instead". Get up and move around a bit, try not to think too much, let your eyes relax and stare at distant objects (20+ feet or 6+meters). Doing this will help you reset and refocus, rather than just dragging your brain from one thing to another.
Eventually your pomodoro length can be increased. But trying to stay focused for 25 minutes or 50 minutes when you can really only focus for 6 or 7 minutes... not effective.
Oh my goodness I use the tree pomodoro too and it definitely helps me focus better! I also didn't want my tree to die XD These tips are really helpful, thank you :)
i find this video incredibley helpful, thanks man!
Thanks for the great video and tips to share with us ❤
In my opinion, in Pomodoro method, 5 minutes of rest is a short time, If I want to take two deep breaths, it will take 5 minutes. 😑
yeah then 50/10 might be good for you
One thing I found with this method is 20-25 minutes isn't long enough to get any real studying in and ultimately breaks my focus. I'll get invested in something else then all the sudden the 5 minutes are up and now I'm more focused on what I did in the 5 minutes rather than focusing on work. I've found (if you're going to be studying most of the day) is break tasks into 90 minutes. So for me I'd do 90 minutes of Chem, 90 minutes of organic chem, 90 minutes in the gym, 90 minutes of math, 90 minutes of bio, then 90 minutes of whatever I wanted. It breaks it into a 9 hour period and I'm not stuck on just one thing
Nice video. I've experimented with the Pomodoro method in the past with varying degrees of success. I'm going to use some of these tips and have another go. 😀
not me watching this in my pomodoro break... also on the music point - i always and forever listen to rain ASMR, i've found it is the best way to study and not get distracted especially when living in busy areas
I don’t like pomadora it taste like fruit with vegetables and when you eat it. The flavor is more gross
What a brilliant video, Zach! Found some really cool tips here...Thanks!
I love using forest for work, its an app to track my present day / having a timer on my laptop as well. Also used it in college 😀
thank you for your videos. It makes me realized I should put off time from my computer because it will be like exams, when we don't know time, we try to stay focus and to speed before timer rings
About music I think it can be a good idea to listen an epic music at beginning but just for some seconds, the goal is to incite to start our session and to open books / computer (sorry for my mistakes )
Great tips.
You can tell he really wants to share and help people with his advice.
i use this method all the time and now i know how i can increase my productivity😤
Oh wow, this was eye opening. Thanks mate!
My writing group does what we call the step ladder pomodoros. 5 to 10 minute breaks in between sessions but the timing would build up each time, hit a peak, and then back down. 10, 15, 20, 15, 10. If I needed a full day of writing done, I'd either do broken step ladders (smaller increments) or do one large one with the biggest session being 45 or 60 minutes with an hour break following the top session before going back down. It's the idea that for creative things the more you work the more you find you're capable of accomplishing, but that you eventually lose momentum as you work. I've gotten 10k+ words days that way and it works for me, with my ADHD brain that sometimes only 10 minutes is all I can do.
damn, the quality of this video is so so great! I've combatted ADHD for a long time in the past and this video is definitely the right cure!!
I think music is a very individual thing. I personally like to begin with music, it helps me to start focusing. When I am focused on something difficult then I will want to turn it off after a few initial minutes. And then do that. When I have to get something easy done then music keeps me going. I am less likely to end before I am done or get frustrated when I start with music.
I struggle to get back to studying if I take a 5 minute break, I feel like its too short of a break and always break my flow. Just me?
I used to do 27 mins of studying in silence and one song as a break in upper secondary school. I think music works almost like a stimulant, but it's only one song so I wouldn't get sucked in for 'one more'.
Loved these tipps. It's so diffrent for my boyfriend and I, he does the 25/5 most of the times, while I prefer 45/15 or 50/5. For our TH-cam-Pomodoro-Videos we decided to do 25/5 mostly, because as you said somehow that is what most people do. For me the thing I benefit the most from are the breaks :D If I didn't use the Pomodoro method, I'd do way less breaks and forget to drink, eat and move. Which in the end would make me quit earlier. Anyway, thanks for the video, some great inspiration to re-think the way I use the method for my work :)
I think you need to make sure you do break the flow state at least once per hour just to prevent RSI, eye problems and move around, remember to drink water etc. I have a problem with hyperfocusing sometimes and need to have the reminder to take a break. I think the advice to restart the timer but add the break time on the end is good - then hopefully you wouldn't skip more than one break.
Thank you so much.
What a great video
my prof recommend this to me literally this week and now i have this notification??? am scared. gonna watch tho.