The Best Productivity Technique That Exists
Photo by Prophsee Journals on Unsplash
Working from home is nice and all, but if I’m being honest, it can also be very challenging.
It takes discipline.
I’ve been struggling with productivity and staying focused, so I’ve been looking for ways to improve. I wanted to be more efficient, more productive, and more motivated to get things done!
Then, at the perfect moment, an email landed in my inbox—a newsletter from Evernote titled: "This Month: The Productivity Issue."
I opened it, and boom—right at the top was an article called: "The Ultimate Guide to Improving Your Productivity.”
There were lots of great tips in there, but the one that stood out to me the most was:
“The Pomodoro Method: Take Strategic Breaks to Improve Productivity — This method instantly improves your focus. It’s been highly researched. And the results are clear: The Pomodoro method is one of the best productivity techniques that exist.”
So, I gave it a go.
And it’s working!
And it’s FUN!!
How It Works
🕒 Set a timer for 25 minutes and focus on a single task.
⏸️ Take a 5-minute break when the timer goes off.
🔁 Repeat this four times (four Pomodoro cycles).
🛑 After four cycles, take a longer break (25+ minutes).
🔄 Then, start another set if needed.
During breaks, you can do whatever you want—as long as it’s not work-related.
Why It Works (Science-Backed)
As Darius Foroux writes in his article:
“The reason this method works is also simple: Evolutionary biology. The human brain can’t focus on a single task for long periods. Our brains are meant to ensure our survival.
To protect us from looming threats the brain is in a constant state of alertness. So focusing on one thing for a long time is hard for your brain.
Research by Alejandro Lleras, from the University of Illinois, showed that deactivating and reactivating work allows us to stay focused.
When you are completing long tasks, such as studying for exams, making presentations or writing reports, it’s best to take short, and planned breaks.
Taking strategic breaks will also increase the quality of your work.
When you take a break, you force yourself to take a few seconds to reevaluate. Sometimes you find that you have to adjust your work to increase the quality.
In contrast, when you work on a task, without a break, it’s easy to lose focus and get lost in the work.”
You can read more about The Pomodoro Technique and how to do it here.
What This Technique Has Done for Me
One of the greatest things I’ve gained from this method is awareness—awareness of just how often I allow myself to be distracted.
I never realized how frequently new ideas and tasks pop into my head, pulling me in different directions. Without thinking, I’d jump from one thing to the next, and by the end of the day, nothing was fully completed—just a bunch of half-finished tasks. It was frustrating and unsatisfying.
The Pomodoro Technique is helping me break this habit.
A Simple Trick That Helps
📋 Keep a notepad next to you.
If you suddenly remember something else you “should” be doing, write it down instead of acting on it. This small habit has been a game-changer.
Later, when I review my notes, I often realize that most of the things I wrote down weren’t even important. I scrap them and move on.
📵 Bonus Tip: I also put my phone on airplane mode for an entire set of four Pomodoros. Absolute game changer!
Your Turn—Let’s Talk Productivity!
Have you struggled with productivity too?
What’s your go-to method for staying focused?
Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Wishing you a productive week,
Keiu ☀