The Pomodoro method has gotten popular over the last year, and for a good reason. It is a great studying method sure to decrease studying time while maximizing productivity. Often, we study for hours on end and have no idea what we studied in the end. This method makes you study in short bursts, taking breaks in the middle so you can still retain the information and not feel drained.
The first thing about Pomodoro studying is to be in the right headspace. It is so important that you know how to actively study instead of spending hours studying and then not actually understanding what you studied in the first place. I first got into using the Pomodoro method when I realized I was studying for hours on end with absolutely no break. It was tiring, and sometimes I still slip into old habits, but consistency is key. So little by little, try this method out and see if it fits the way you study.
APPs:
The right app is something that makes a big difference when using this method because some can be better at keeping you motivated than others. My top three apps for the Pomodoro method are Flora, Flipd, and Forest. Flora and Flipd are free but you can get a subscription if you want. In Flora, with a subscription, you can plant a real tree for every session you complete. In this app, even for free, you get to grow a little fictional plant and as you complete certain challenges, you travel across the world and plant different plants in your designated garden every time you study. The catch is, is that if you exit a session before time is up, the tree dies, so it’s great motivation to keep studying. You can also add a to-do list so you can adjust your study session to fit the task you are trying to complete. Each study session is also a max of three hours so once you finish studying you can take a break for however long you want. Forest is another version of this but is paid and caps you off at five real trees. It works like Flora by adding to your forest every time you successfully complete a study session. With Forest, you can build your very own forest as you continue completing the study sessions.
Tips and Tricks:
The trick with studying using the Pomodoro study method is to study in short periods. This can be a difficult task if you are used to studying for long periods without taking breaks. I used to do this so when I switched to using the Pomodoro method, I started off doing an hour and thirty-minute sessions and then taking 10-15 minute breaks. This was a great way to keep me motivated and also allow me to rest, recharge and still retain the material I was studying. Even when writing essays, Pomodoro was still very helpful because once it was time to take a break, it gave me a chance to think about the topic with new ideas and reread what I had previously written. Studying in 45 to 60-minute sessions or even 90-minute sessions with small breaks in between is great motivation to keep studying even after a session is done because you don’t feel tired or all studied out. It’s a great way to maximize studying time without feeling completely drained. This method has helped me space out my studying and organizes it so that after studying for a bit, I can take a break, work on another assignment and complete everything I wanted to in a compact time frame.
Overall, I found that the Pomodoro method is a amazing way to study, keeping myself on track with my goals, and helping to stick to the task at hand. By slowly easing myself into a time frame a bit less than I usually study for, the Pomodoro technique works great for me. Happy studying!
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