Most people struggle with time not because they don’t have enough, but because they have trouble starting. Use the Pomodoro Technique to get going and keep going today!
I sure could have used the Pomodoro Technique for improved productivity when I was younger. Back then, I could have been nominated for being the captain of the procrastination-by-overthinking team. I believed that if I just had more time, I’d get everything done. I’d sit down to start a task or project, and my brain would start offering me all kinds of excuses:
- “I don’t have enough time to do this properly.”
- “I should check my email first.”
- “This is going to take forever.”
- “Maybe I should clean up my desk before I start.”
These thoughts felt reasonable — but they were really just disguised procrastination. (I talked about this “story in my head” in a previous post.)
Then I started using the Pomodoro Technique, and something shifted. Suddenly, I wasn’t overthinking as much. I wasn’t hesitating. I was just starting — and finishing projects and tasks that used to feel overwhelming.
If you ever feel like you’re stuck in your own head, making excuses, or just can’t seem to focus, the Pomodoro Technique for improved productivity might be the fix.
How the Pomodoro Technique works
Developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s, the Pomodoro Technique is a simple, structured way to work in focused bursts while avoiding burnout.
Here’s how to use this technique:
- Pick a task. Just one. No multitasking.
- Set a timer for a set number of minutes. (The original length is 25 minutes, but that’s not set in stone.)
- Work without interruptions. No email, no scrolling, no “quick” phone calls.
- Take a short break at the end of your timer. (I do affirmations here.)
- Repeat. After four Pomodoros, take a longer break (10–30 minutes). Walk around, stretch, breathe.
Some people stick to the standard 25-minute work sessions, but you can adjust the timing based on what works best for you. I do 25 minutes of a working session, followed by a 20-second break. Then, I do 3 more rounds of that, and end with a 10-minute break. You can adjust that timing for whatever works for you.
If I’m doing truly deep work, I repeat the “regular” round for a set number of times. Cal Newport defines “deep work” as “Professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.” If you’ve achieved deep work, you want to keep going!
Why the Pomodoro Technique works so well
Most people struggle with productivity not because they lack time, but because they fall into mental traps that stop them from starting. The Pomodoro Technique for improved productivity cuts through those traps in four ways:
1. It eliminates the “I don’t have time” excuse.
Ever told yourself, “I need a big block of time to really focus on this” — and then never found that time?
This technique tricks your brain into starting because 25 minutes feels doable.
Instead of: “I need two uninterrupted hours to work on this.”
Try: “I only need 25 minutes.”
Most of the time, once you get started, you keep going. (As John Acuff says in his book Start, “the only thing you have control of is the starting line.”) Helping you get started is one of the best ways to use the Pomodoro Technique for improved productivity.
2. It cuts through perfectionism and fear
I’ve been guilty of thinking, “I can’t start yet — I don’t have everything figured out.” But waiting for the perfect time or the perfect idea leads to zero progress.
A Pomodoro session removes the pressure because you’re not committing to perfection — you’re just committing to 25 minutes of effort.
Instead of: “This has to be great, or it’s not worth doing.”
Try: “I don’t have to be perfect — I just have to work for 25 minutes.”
The Pomodoro Technique for improved productivity helps you put aside your perfectionist anxieties and get going.
3. It stops endless decision-making.
Ever sat there debating what to work on instead of actually working?
- “Should I start with Task A or Task B?”
- “Should I read more research studies before I write?”
- “Maybe I should wait until after lunch.”
The Pomodoro Technique for improved productivity eliminates the debate. No more waiting for the “right moment.” You just start the timer and go.
Instead of: “Should I start now or later?”
Try: “No more debating — just start the timer.”
4. It builds momentum
Getting started is the hardest part. The Pomodoro Technique creates tiny wins that add up fast.
Instead of: “I’ll do it later.”
Try: “I’ll just do 25 minutes now.”
The best part? Once you start, your brain stops resisting, and the momentum pulls you forward. That’s how the Pomodoro Technique for improved productivity will help you for a lot longer than 25 minutes.
The science behind why it works
There’s actual research that backs up the efficacy of the Pomodoro Technique for improved productivity. A study published by Biewer and colleagues looked at how pre-determined, systematic breaks compare to self-regulated breaks. The researchers found that:
“Taking pre-determined, systematic breaks during a study session had mood benefits and appeared to have efficiency benefits (i.e., similar task completion in shorter time) over taking self-regulated breaks.”
Translation? You get just as much done — but in less time — with structured breaks.
Using technology to make it easier
There are a ton of apps that help you stick to Pomodoro sessions:
- Focus To-Do — Combines a Pomodoro timer with task management.
- Forest — Helps you stay focused by growing virtual trees.
- Pomofocus — A simple, customizable Pomodoro timer.
I personally use the “tomato timer” on my laptop and Focus Keeper on my iPhone. Or, more frequently, I use TimeOut, an app that blurs my screen for 15 seconds every 20 minutes to reduce eye strain. Instead of scrolling or zoning out, I use that quick pause to repeat an affirmation and reset my focus. Here are some examples you can do while you wait those 15 seconds
- “I take action now, and progress follows.”
- “I have all the time I need to do what matters most.”
- “Starting small leads to big results.”
How to get started (even if you’re skeptical)
The key is to just try it. Even if you don’t fully believe in it yet.
When I first heard about the Pomodoro Technique for improved productivity, I thought, “How can setting a timer really make that much of a difference?”
But the first time I did it, I noticed something:
- I stopped overthinking and just started.
- I wasn’t as mentally drained because of the built-in breaks.
- I made more progress in less time than I expected.
If you want to break free from procrastination, give it a shot for just one day. Set a timer and see what happens.
The bottom line
I don’t believe in productivity hacks that overcomplicate things. But I do believe in systems that make it easier to get started, stay focused, and build momentum.
That’s exactly what the Pomodoro Technique for improved productivity does.
If you’ve ever struggled with getting started, staying focused, or feeling like time slips away, you’re not alone. The key is breaking past mental resistance — and you don’t have to do it alone.
If you want accountability, motivation, and real momentum, join my group. You’ll be surrounded by action-takers who will push you to follow through. Book a free discovery call or DM me on LinkedIn to get started!
Let’s get to work.
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.