The Pomodoro Technique: A Guide to Flow

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It uses a timer to break work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks.

Core Principles

• Decide on the task to be done.
• Set the pomodoro timer (traditionally to 25 minutes).
• Work on the task.
• End work when the timer rings and put a checkmark on a piece of paper.
• If you have fewer than four checkmarks, take a short break (3–5 minutes) and then return to step 2.
• After four pomodoros, take a longer break (15–30 minutes), reset your checkmark count to zero, then go to step 1.

Beyond Standard Intervals

While 25/5 is the standard, many professionals find other ratios work better for "Deep Work".

The 52/17 Rule

Research by the productivity app DeskTime found that the most productive 10% of users tended to work for 52 minutes, followed by a 17-minute break. This ratio is often cited as ideal for cognitive stamina.

Ultradian Rhythms (90/20)

Our bodies operate on 90-120 minute cycles known as Ultradian Rhythms. Working for 90 minutes allows you to ride this wave of energy, followed by a 20-minute rest to reset.