Pomodoro Blog
Guides to studying and working in timed sessions, from the people who make the pomodoro timer. Start with the pomodoro technique guide if you are new, or jump to the article that matches what you are working on.
Every guide here is practical: a plan you can follow today, with the timer settings to match. Where we cite research we name it, and where the evidence is thin we say so. The data report uses pomofox's own aggregate session data, never anyone's individual history.
The basics
- How long is a pomodoro? Session, break and cycle lengths, and when to change them.
- Why pomodoro works, and when it doesn't. The mechanisms, the research and five honest failure cases.
- 25/5 vs 50/10 vs 52/17 vs 90 minutes. Four focus rhythms compared.
Studying
- Pomodoro for studying: a plan by exam type. Essay, problem, memorization and standardized exams.
- Is pomodoro good for math, reading and memorizing? Sizing sessions by subject.
- Finals week schedule. Seven days to finals, planned in pomodoros.
- Back to school study setup. A desk, a timer routine and a weekly plan.
Focus together and in your tools
- Body doubling online. Working alongside other people with a shared timer.
- Build a Notion study dashboard. A timer, tasks and a session log in one page.
Data
106,000 focus sessions: how people actually use a pomodoro timer. Session lengths, the busiest weekdays and the summer dip, from a year of pomofox sessions.
Where to start
- New to timed sessions: read how long is a pomodoro, then run one on the timer.
- Studying for exams: pomodoro for studying, then the finals week schedule when the date gets close.
- Pomodoro not working for you: why pomodoro works, and when it doesn't has the fixes.
Free tools
The exam timer for practice papers, and the halloween pomodoro timer for October.