The Ultimate Guide to Pomodoro (Student Edition)

Summary

In this Cajun Cast episode, hosts Mike and Maddie explore the Pomodoro Technique, a time management method that emphasizes productivity through timed work intervals and breaks. They discuss its traditional 25-minute work, 5-minute break structure, and variations like 45-15 and 52-17. The hosts suggest 26 upgrades to enhance the technique, tailored to different 'brain types' or learning styles, such as Kitsune, Torah, and Kuma clubs. Tips include removing distractions, planning tasks, experimenting with intervals, and using physical timers. They also highlight the importance of flow and suggest strategies like body doubling and gamification to maintain focus and productivity.

Takeaways

• 🍅 Pomodoro technique is traditionally 25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break, but it can be adapted to different intervals like 45-15 or 52-17 to suit individual needs.
• 🕒 The key to Pomodoro is achieving 'flow', a state of concentrated productivity. If you're in flow when the timer ends, you can let it go and continue working.
• 🔄 If you lose focus, don't force yourself to work until the timer goes off. Take a break to reset and avoid low-quality work.
• 📝 Plan your tasks for the day before starting a Pomodoro session to avoid breaking flow to decide what to do next.
• 📉 Break down large projects into smaller, manageable tasks to set clear goals and understand the focus required for each.
• 🐸 Use the 'eat the frog' approach by tackling the most demanding tasks first when your energy is highest.
• 🌞 Schedule your Pomodoro sessions during your most productive time of day, whether morning, afternoon, or night.
• 🍽️ Plan for sufficient breaks and leisure time to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• 📚 Keep all necessary materials and tools ready before starting a session to minimize distractions and interruptions.
• 🚫 Remove all distractions, especially phones, to reduce the mental effort spent resisting the urge to check them.
• 🎵 Experiment with different types of music or ambient sounds to see what helps you focus best, but avoid multitasking with music if intense concentration is required.

Q & A

What is the traditional time setup for the Pomodoro Technique?

The traditional Pomodoro Technique setup is 25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break.

What alternative work-to-break ratios were suggested by B minor and DeskTime studies?

B minor suggested a 45-minute work period with a 15-minute break, while DeskTime's study found that top performers preferred a 52-minute work period with a 17-minute break.

How does the Pomodoro Technique help in achieving flow?

The Pomodoro Technique helps achieve flow by forcing time pressure, which encourages focus and productivity.

What is the first upgrade suggested for the Pomodoro Technique in the script?

The first upgrade suggested is to let the timer go if you get into flow, and not to stop if the timer goes off while you're still focused.

What is the advice for taking breaks in the Pomodoro Technique if you've lost focus?

If you've lost focus, you should take a break even if the timer hasn't gone off, to avoid forcing yourself to work when the quality of your work goes down.

Why is it important to plan all the projects you want to work on for the day before starting the Pomodoro Technique?

Planning all projects beforehand is important to avoid breaking flow by not knowing what to do next and to prevent wasting time deciding what to work on.

How does breaking down large projects into smaller tasks benefit the Pomodoro Technique?

Breaking down large projects helps in setting clear goals for each session, which requires different amounts of focus and may even need different work-break intervals.

What is the 'eat the frog' expression in the context of the Pomodoro Technique?

The 'eat the frog' expression means doing your most demanding tasks first when you have the most energy, and then adding on lighter tasks later in the day.

Why is it recommended to plan out what time of day to do your Pomodoros?

Planning the time of day for Pomodoros is important to align with your personal productivity peaks, such as morning, afternoon, or night, to give yourself the best chance to focus.

How can having a physical timer versus an electronic one impact the Pomodoro Technique?

Using a physical timer can help reduce electronic distractions and increase accountability, as it's based on the psychology of public or physical commitments.

What is the concept of 'body doubling' and how can it be applied in the Pomodoro Technique?

Body doubling is a strategy used to help people with ADHD, where working alongside someone else helps keep focus. In Pomodoro, this can be virtually achieved through study groups or 'Study with Me' videos.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Introduction to Pomodoro and Different Techniques

Mike and Maddie introduce the concept of the Pomodoro Technique, which Mike initially struggled with in med school. They discuss how the traditional 25-5 minute interval has evolved, with studies suggesting different timings like 45-15, 52-17, and 112-26. The focus is on achieving 'flow,' and the hosts will explore 26 ways to upgrade the Pomodoro technique for different learning styles at Cajun Koi Academy.

05:03

⏳ Pomodoro Upgrade 1: Flow Over Timer

The first upgrade is to prioritize 'flow' over sticking to the timer. If you're in the zone when the timer goes off, continue working. Mike and Maddie emphasize that maintaining focus is more important than strictly adhering to the timer. You can 'roll over' missed breaks to a later time, offering flexibility and preventing interruptions in productivity.

10:05

💡 Pomodoro Upgrade 2: Take Breaks When Needed

If focus is lost, it's okay to take a break before the timer goes off. Forcing yourself to continue working in a distracted state reduces the quality of work. Maddie explains that taking a short, longer break and resetting can help, avoiding the brain getting used to working when tired. Flexibility with break intervals is key to maintaining productivity.

15:06

📅 Plan and Organize Your Day Before Starting Pomodoro

Planning ahead is crucial for effective Pomodoro sessions. Mike and Maddie suggest focusing on one task per session, breaking large projects into smaller, specific goals. Knowing the order of tasks and setting Pomodoro intervals according to your energy levels (whether you're a morning, afternoon, or night person) can help maintain focus and prevent decision fatigue.

🧠 Upgrades for Preparation: Minimize Distractions and Optimize Setup

Before starting, gather all necessary materials to avoid disruptions. Remove distractions, particularly phones, and consider using a 'distraction sheet' to offload intrusive thoughts. Music or ambient sounds can also help, but the choice should align with the task at hand. For deep focus work, silence is preferred, while lighter tasks may benefit from music or ambient noise.

🎶 Sponsored by Artlist: Music for Productivity

Mike discusses how Artlist has been a game-changer in finding royalty-free music for videos, helping him stay focused during Pomodoro sessions. The platform offers easy access to music and sound effects, with a personal plan available for $9.99 per month. By using Artlist, Mike has streamlined his workflow and enhanced his productivity, keeping distractions to a minimum.

🏠 Create a Productive Workspace and Develop Rituals

Creating a designated workspace that signals to your brain it's time to focus is key. Maddie advises against working in relaxed areas like beds or couches. Developing rituals, such as meditation before starting, helps condition your brain for work. Rituals can also be social, involving friends in shared activities before Pomodoro sessions to signal readiness.

💻 Limit Electronics and Use Physical Timers

For focus, use a device strictly for work, free from distractions like games or social media. If buying a separate device isn't feasible, consider browser extensions or apps like Cold Turkey Writer, which turns your computer into a distraction-free typewriter. Using a physical timer can also boost accountability and further eliminate electronic distractions.

👥 Social Pomodoro: The Power of Body Doubling

Pomodoro can be done socially to increase accountability. Mike explains the concept of 'body doubling,' which helps people stay focused by working alongside others. Study-with-me videos or virtual platforms like Discord can replicate this effect. Social Pomodoro encourages focus and motivation, especially for those prone to distraction.

🧘 Optimize Your Breaks for Mental Recharge

Breaks should be active to keep the brain stimulated, whether through physical exercise, meditation, or getting fresh air. Avoid passive, dopamine-driven activities like social media, as they can extend breaks unnecessarily. The goal is to stay mentally engaged during breaks without losing the productive momentum built during work intervals.

⏱️ Try Stopwatch Instead of Timer: Introducing Phlomodoro

An alternative to the traditional Pomodoro is the 'Phlomodoro' technique, which uses a stopwatch instead of a timer. This method still leverages the pressure of time but allows more flexibility in working within a time constraint. Mike and Maddie encourage viewers to explore Phlomodoro as another way to achieve and maintain flow during work sessions.

🦊 Brain Type: Kitsune Club – Quick and Distractible Learners

Kitsune club members are energetic, fast learners who are easily distracted. Mike advises them to prioritize upgrades related to managing distractions, such as removing distractions and using a distraction sheet. Kitsunes thrive on interest, so gamifying Pomodoro and working with friends can help. If in flow, they should continue working past the timer to maintain focus.

🐂 Brain Type: Torah Club – Goal-Oriented and Driven

Torahs are highly driven and organized, but they may burn out quickly. Maddie emphasizes the importance of careful planning, setting clear tasks, and limiting Pomodoro sessions to working hours. Balancing leisure and self-care is crucial for Torahs to maintain long-term productivity without burnout. A stopwatch might be a better fit for their work style.

🐻 Brain Type: Kuma Club – Methodical and Enduring

Kuma club members are methodical workers who take time to build momentum. Mike advises them to stay physically active during breaks to maintain cognitive flow. Kumas often work better later in the day, so their schedule should reflect that. Using routines and rituals helps build up momentum, allowing them to tackle harder tasks later in the day.

🏆 Conclusion: Join Us for More Pomodoro Sessions

Mike and Maddie wrap up by inviting viewers to join more Pomodoro sessions at Cajun Koi Academy, with upcoming events like Captain Jin's blood drive and the inter-club matches. The hosts emphasize the benefits of engaging in social Pomodoro activities and encourage viewers to stay tuned for future updates and events.

Keywords

💡Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that involves breaking work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. This technique is designed to improve focus and productivity by creating time pressure that encourages flow. In the script, the hosts discuss various modifications to the traditional Pomodoro intervals, such as 45-15 or 52-17, to better suit individual work habits and preferences.

💡Flow

Flow is a mental state in which a person is fully immersed in an activity, experiencing a sense of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment. It is considered the key to the Pomodoro Technique's effectiveness. The script emphasizes the importance of achieving flow and suggests that the Pomodoro intervals are meant to facilitate this state, allowing individuals to work more productively.

💡Time Pressure

Time pressure refers to the psychological stress that arises from the perception that there is not enough time to complete a task. In the context of the Pomodoro Technique, time pressure is intentionally created by the timer to encourage focused work. The script suggests that this pressure helps individuals to achieve and maintain flow, which is essential for productivity.

💡Distraction

A distraction is anything that diverts attention from the primary task at hand. The script discusses various strategies for managing distractions, such as removing the source of distraction or using a distraction sheet to record intrusive thoughts. These methods are aimed at helping individuals stay focused during their Pomodoro work intervals.

💡Interval Lengths

Interval lengths refer to the duration of work periods and breaks within the Pomodoro Technique. The script mentions that while the traditional interval is 25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break, studies have shown that top performers may prefer different intervals, such as 52 minutes of work and 17 minutes of break. The hosts encourage listeners to experiment with different interval lengths to find what works best for them.

💡Planning

Planning in the context of the Pomodoro Technique involves outlining the tasks to be completed during the day and the order in which they will be tackled. The script emphasizes the importance of planning to avoid breaking flow and to ensure that work is purposeful and directed. It also suggests planning the number of Pomodoro sessions and having all necessary materials ready before starting.

💡Rituals

Rituals are routines or procedures that are performed in a set manner. In the script, rituals are discussed as a way to prime the brain for work by creating a consistent pre-work routine, such as meditation or a specific series of actions that signal the start of a Pomodoro session. This conditioning helps to mentally prepare the individual for focused work.

💡Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning is a learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a response. In the context of the script, classical conditioning is used to describe how individuals can train their brains to associate certain environments or rituals with focused work, thereby making it easier to enter a state of flow.

💡Electronics

The use of electronics during Pomodoro sessions is discussed in the script, with suggestions to limit their use to reduce distractions. This includes using a physical timer instead of a digital one, having a dedicated work device, and using website blockers or browser extensions to restrict access to distracting websites.

💡Social Pomodoro

Social Pomodoro refers to the practice of doing Pomodoro sessions with others, either in person or virtually, to increase accountability and motivation. The script mentions 'body doubling' as a strategy used for individuals with ADHD, which involves working alongside someone else to stay focused. The hosts also suggest joining study groups or using online platforms to find virtual study partners.

💡Breaks

Breaks are an integral part of the Pomodoro Technique, allowing for mental rest and rejuvenation. The script advises staying active during breaks to encourage the brain to continue releasing beneficial neurochemicals, which can aid in maintaining focus. Examples of active breaks include exercising, stretching, or going for a walk, as opposed to passive activities like scrolling through social media.

Highlights

Pomodoro technique traditionally involves 25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break, but new studies and modifications suggest alternative intervals like 45-15, 52-17, and even 112-26 to optimize productivity.

The key behind Pomodoro’s effectiveness is its ability to help individuals maintain flow, which is a state of heightened focus and productivity.

The importance of being flexible with the Pomodoro timer: If you're in a state of flow when the timer goes off, keep going and adjust the breaks accordingly.

Take a break if you've completely lost focus, instead of forcing yourself to push through, which can diminish the quality of your work.

Experiment with different interval lengths to discover what works best for you, as there is no one-size-fits-all solution to maximizing focus and productivity.

Before starting a Pomodoro session, plan all tasks and only focus on one task per session to prevent distractions and enhance focus.

Break large tasks into smaller, more manageable goals, and be specific about what each Pomodoro session will focus on.

Organize your tasks by energy levels, prioritizing demanding tasks when you have the most energy and leaving lighter tasks for later.

Remove distractions before starting your Pomodoro timer, especially phones, which require mental energy to resist.

Utilize a distraction sheet to jot down intrusive thoughts or ideas that arise during work, allowing your brain to offload and stay focused.

Consider experimenting with music or ambient sounds during Pomodoro sessions to enhance cognitive performance, depending on the type of task.

Classical conditioning can prime your brain for focus: designate a specific workspace for work, or use rituals like meditation before each Pomodoro session.

Social Pomodoro, or working with others, can increase focus and accountability. The body doubling technique is especially effective for people with ADHD.

Optimize breaks by staying active with light physical activities like stretching or going for a walk instead of mindlessly scrolling through social media.

For highly distractible individuals, gamifying Pomodoro using apps or working with friends can help maintain focus and motivation.

Transcripts

good morning rookies you're tuned in to

cajun cast with your co-hosts mike and

maddie and today we're talking about

drum roll please

pomodoro so i first started using

pomodoro in med school and for some

reason it just wasn't working i kept

losing focus i didn't feel productive

and so i blamed it on the pomodoro right

just it was all hype anyway right i mean

it's just a tomato but then i saw people

start to experiment with it and modify

it so pomodoro is traditionally 25

minutes work five minutes break but

b minor talk suggested a 45-15 schedule

then death time did an epic study and

found that the top performers preferred

52-17

and post pandemic did a study was 112 or

26 right right yeah so they adjusted it

but it got me interested like what's the

magic blend behind all these numbers

right looking past the cute tomato and

random intervals pomodoro works because

it forces time pressure to help us

achieve and maintain flow that's the key

so it's all about flow so if we

understand this golden rule we can

modify pomodoro to make it better so

today we're talking about 26 ways to

improve our pomodoro game 26 upgrades

right but it doesn't just end there

because at cajun koi academy we're all

matched into one of three different

clubs based on our brain type or unique

neurobiology so while most advice leaves

you with just a grab bag of random tips

without any direction we'll take it

further and help you prioritize which

tips to focus on depending on your

learning style all right so let's start

with the upgrades hey misty

can you run the pomodoro protocol please

so upgrade number one

if you get in flow let the timer go it's

funny because when we talk about

pomodoro we think about the timer but

the timer is really only there to help

us get into flow to help us get into the

zone once you're there gg if the timer

goes off and you're flowing you don't

have to stop no one's forcing you to

stop it's hard for some of us to regain

or focus once we've lost it so just keep

going you can take that break and add it

on to a later break

so like roll over minutes all right yeah

i love that so if i do that enough times

then i can just like watch an episode of

anime right for sure the idea is to keep

a flexible mindset especially for people

who are new to pomodoro so the reverse

is also true upgrade number two if you

absolutely need to take a break then

just take a break so if you've lost

focus and you're struggling don't force

yourself to push through until the next

timer goes off when we completely lose

focus we try to push through

the quality of our work goes down and it

takes longer for us to get back into

focus all right so like you're kicking

yourself when you're already down

exactly so wrap up the session take a

little bit of a longer break

you know brush it off reset and you

don't want to allow your brain to get

used to working

when you're more tired so next you want

to experiment with your interval lengths

some studies show that the average

attention span is like 25 to 30 minutes

but as mentioned before desktime did a

study in 2014 they found that the top 10

of workers preferred a schedule of 52-17

and then the study was repeated in 2021

post-pandemic after the work environment

changed and they edited it to 112

minutes 26 minutes break so the research

changes all the time but keep in mind

that these are average numbers of the

top performers so that doesn't mean that

it's ideal for you so just play around

with the different intervals to find

your own sweet spot all right so let's

move on to the next set of upgrades and

these are things that you should

implement before you even start your

pomodoro timer so first is to plan all

the projects you want to work on for

that day and you only want to have one

task that you're working on in every

single session yeah it's never

multi-task

it sounds pretty basic but a lot of

people actually miss that point if you

forget to do this then consider using

your first pomodoro session to actually

just plan out what you're going to do

for the rest of the day you don't want

to break your flow in the middle not

knowing what you're doing because it's

going to get harder to get back and flow

yeah you don't want to waste your time

asking yourself what you should be

working on next so next is to break down

large projects into smaller tasks so

telling yourself to just write an essay

during your next session is not really a

clear goal you want to be more specific

with your tasks so are you going to do

research are you going to outline your

essay you're going to write a draft

you're going to edit it it takes a

different amount of focus to work on

each of these different tasks and

probably even different work break

intervals so definitely plan this ahead

so next is you want to plan out what

order you want to tackle your tasks in

you may have heard of the expression eat

the frog and basically what that means

is that you want to do your most

demanding tasks first early in the day

when you have the most energy and then

you can add on the lighter stuff later

on next is to plan out what time of day

you want to do your pomodoros this is

similar to the last tip except now

you're taking into account are you a

morning person are you an afternoon

person or are you a night owl and this

is important because you want to give

yourself the best chance to focus right

you don't want to do pomodoro during the

parts of the day where you know you're

going to be unproductive this is

basically conditioning yourself

that it's okay to do like half-assed

weak inefficient work so next we want to

plan out how many pomodoros we do for

the entire day

leave plenty of time in the day because

you know life happens you want to

protect your leisure time your social

time and you know self-care we want

enough time to enjoy a good meal or you

know get a workout in without the

pressure of being under a clock you

can't just pomodoro all day long because

you'll just burn out otherwise so next

is to plan out everything you need to

have right in front of you like have

everything in its place before you start

the timer this includes your books your

study materials water coffee snacks

blankets jackets music like everything

don't ruin your chances of getting into

flow by getting up to look for things

that you forgot to prepare in advance

all right so now let's talk about

upgrades related to distractions

first is obviously to remove all

distractions if you're not going to use

it at a site out of mind right for most

people this is going to be their phone

it takes a lot of mental effort to

actively try and resist using your phone

next is using a distraction sheet so

while you're working and you get

distracted by something or you start

having some random thoughts or you start

daydreaming just write it down on your

distraction sheet this will help your

brain offload those intrusive thoughts

you can stay focused and you can just go

google whatever random facts you were

curious about during your breaks next is

to experiment with music music is

technically multitasking but research

has also shown us that it could improve

cognition in certain situations but it

varies on what kind of music what task

you're doing and your energy levels at

that time for the most part i'd

recommend no music if you're doing

intense critical thinking we've already

made a few videos diving into music for

learning and productivity so i'm just

going to link them right up here all

right next if you don't want to use

music you could consider using ambient

sounds so some people like raindrops or

cafe ambiance some people like

thunderstorms for whatever reason

research found that white noise has been

shown to enhance cognitive performance

it's definitely not for me but i know

because i've experimented so experiment

and on the topic of music i want to take

a quick moment to thank the sponsor of

this video art list artlos provides

highly curated royalty-free music sound

effects and tools for creators they

offer access to unlimited downloads of

crisp quality songs and sounds updated

daily that you can license for your

projects forever even after plan is up

artless makes it super intuitive and

easy to find any song or sound i want

it's all organized down to the finest

detail i can click through ambience and

find wind noises wishes transitions

sci-fi beeps you name it no more digging

through sound packs or recording my home

sound effects artless streamlines the

entire sound design process it's been a

game changer when i edit during pomodoro

sessions it used to take forever to find

the right music for a particular video

and that frustration would break my

focus or i just put off that project

altogether but with artless it's so easy

to find what i need they even have a

similar songs feature so i can riff off

good vibes and i can even search artists

if i like their work on the topic of

this video using artless keeps me in

flow and provides peace of mind since i

don't have to worry about copyright

claims for my projects for just 9.99 a

month the personal plan allows you to

get licensed music for youtube and

socials like instagram and tick tock and

if you use our special link in the

description you'll get two extra months

free added to an annual subscription of

artlist check it out so next let's talk

about the upgrades related to classical

conditioning basically priming your

brain to help you get over the mental

hurdle of getting started first is to

have a go-to work area i'd recommend not

doing pomodoro in bed or on the couch

because your brain is conditioned to be

relaxed in those spots we want our brain

to be focused so find a comfortable seat

and have easy access to a bathroom

preferably use an area with the window

and some natural lighting so just going

off of what you just said next consider

having different designated workspaces

for different types of work so for

example you could always do practice

problems at the library or always do

flash cards at the cafe or always do

your research in your bedroom but it

doesn't need to be that fancy you could

literally just sit at one end of the

table to do math and then at another end

of the table to do science the point is

to prime your brain and prepare it to do

specific types of work when you sit in a

specific environment i'm gonna go even

further with that priming thing and talk

about rituals

so one example would be to do a couple

minutes of meditation before starting a

pomodoro session collect your focus

neutralize your distractions start the

timer and then just get started and do

that every time to condition yourself to

that ritual so rituals can be done with

friends too before you start a timer you

can have a secret group ritual that you

guys all do together signal that you're

ready to go and then get started yeah

and here at cajun koi academy before we

entered pomodoro we asked misty to

activate focus mode oh sorry

i didn't mean that missy sorry so next

you could try adding structure to the

beginning or the end of your sessions so

for example you could use the first

minute of every pomodoro to review what

you just learned during the last session

or another example would be you can use

the last minute of every pomodoro to

review what you just learned during that

session to kind of wrap things up so the

goal is to basically lower attention

residue and help you switch between

tasks so next let's talk about using

electronics during pomodoro you could

consider having a work device that's

only meant for work it works great if

you can afford it of course but having

like a separate ipad or tablet or even a

laptop just make sure you don't have

like any social media on those tab like

on those devices or any games or

anything maybe even no wi-fi too if you

can if you don't need wi-fi for work

it's purely a work machine

this conditions your brain to only work

on that device and completely block out

distractions right so i'm going to take

that a step further next method is to

use website blockers or browser

extensions to restrict your computer you

don't have to buy a whole separate

computer

there are a lot of options so we'll

throw some on the screen here

but one of them i wanted to point out

because i thought it was just kind of

funny is that

there's something called cold turkey

writer that turns your computer into a

typewriter for a set amount of time so

the only thing you can do is type until

that time runs out it's basically like

quitting your addiction to distractions

cold turkey so to take this even a step

further

some apps can also block distractions

and have an added like reward system to

gamify it and you can track your

progress over time this is apps like

forests where you can plant trees and

can watch them grow so the last tip for

electronics is to not use an electronic

timer grab a physical one and it doesn't

have to be a tomato shaped timer either

you can find anything really maybe you

can find a kuma timer or a torah timer

or something maybe we should make our

own i mean let us know in the comments

if we should make a cajun koi themed

timer but anyways the concept is based

on the psychology that we are more

accountable to public or physical

commitments plus this helps us get rid

of all electronic devices and

distractions all right now let's talk

about social pomodoro

doing pomodoro with friends can help

keep us accountable and actually there's

medical basis for this as well one of

the strategies that's used to help

people with adhd is called body doubling

basically a practice where you work

alongside someone else and that presence

helps keeps you focused and motivated to

work

yeah you don't even need to have a

physical person sitting next to you

either you can find thousands of study

with me videos on youtube for example

some of them with built-in pomodoro

timers right to help you achieve this

body doubling effect you could also hop

on our discord server you can make some

friends and start your body doubling

virtually and onto the last segment our

upgrades on how to optimize your brakes

what you should aim to do during your

brakes is to stay active to encourage

your brain to continue releasing good

neurochemicals you can achieve this with

like exercising or stretching

doing chores around the house

reorganizing your workspace going on for

a short walk or meditating

you know getting some sunlight or fresh

air or playing music so what you should

not do during your breaks is to scroll

through some sort of infinitely looping

dopamine binge like social media or

reddit or checking your email for

example because five minutes of break

can easily turn into an hour

so the last upgrade here is kind of

complicated

but to the premise is this we know that

the key to getting into flow is the

pomodoro's time pressure but instead of

using a timer try switching to a

stopwatch this is the basis of

phlomodoro it's a little different than

pomodoro and we've made a video about it

if you're interested you can check it

out right here

so now that we've covered all the

options to upgrade our pomodoro game it

can be overwhelming so let's talk about

which ones we should think about first

based on our brain type let's start with

the kitsune club if this is you you're a

type of student who's energetic you

learn fast you work fast and you're

highly distractible

you might even think you have adhd

when you lose focus it's very difficult

for you to get it back so it would make

sense that the tips you should

prioritize first are the ones related to

distractibility remove all distractions

before you start and use a distraction

sheet experiment with different kinds of

music it can help calm your nerves and

also boost your cognition

kitsunes are also motivated by interest

if you truly enjoy something you can

really get into it and work for hours so

consider gamifying your pomodoro with

apps and games work with friends to stay

accountable but be sure that you're

working and not just playing around and

finally if you get in flow let the timer

go

this is important for all clubs of

course but akitsune's focus comes in

quick bursts so if you find that flow

you want to hold on to it so next is

torah club and i'm a tour myself and

this is you you're a type of student who

is goal oriented you're highly driven

and you're organized and you naturally

have more motivation than the other

clubs you tend to follow through with

things you get things done big question

is

what are those things so planning is

huge for you so before you start that

pomodoro timer be able to answer all

these questions

what tasks will you be doing today

in what order will you do them

what time of day will you do them and

how many pomodoro sessions will you need

to get them done

the other thing about torahs is that

sometimes we have too much ambition

and not enough energy to carry it out

the analogy i always use is that the

brightest candle usually burns out the

quickest if we're not careful pomodoro

can easily burn us out it's really

important to only plan using pomodoro

during your working hours and leave your

leisure time and self-care time alone

you still need adequate time to eat a

balanced diet to actually enjoy eating

to actually enjoy working out without

feeling like you're under the clock all

the time and especially you need to get

enough sleep beyond that you can

consider trying a stopwatch instead of a

timer next is kuma club if this is you

you're a type of student who takes time

to work methodically and think deeply

you're like a marathon runner with high

endurance but it can take some time for

you to get going so it's important for

you to maintain momentum and what you do

during your breaks is very important for

your momentum so keep yourself moving

like literally physical activity helps

maintain the neurochemical state that

your brain has achieved during your work

time so wrapping up your work at the end

of pomodoro sessions is also important

give yourself less friction to get

started again when you sit back down so

that's keeping your momentum but what

about building up that momentum

well generally kumas tend to work better

later in the day you're not usually a

morning person so your schedule might

look the exact opposite compared to the

other two clubs you might consider doing

lighter work in the morning then kind of

building up to a more demanding stuff

later on you want to use routines check

off your to-do lists use rituals have

multiple dedicated working spots

one victory after another just kind of

building up that confidence to tackle

the hard stuff later on

all right rookies thanks for tuning in

to this cajun cast it's been real

definitely join us in the oasis room for

plenty of pomodoro sessions to come

and don't forget that captain jin's

blood drive is happening next week and

you don't want to be

late to that knowing him

and also don't forget to pick up the

tickets to the first inter club matches

starting next week we'll see you all

there should be exciting

go kitsunes

[Music]

you