How Can The Pomodoro Technique Boost My Physics Revision?

No, the Pomodoro Technique isn’t some new internet dance craze. It’s a studying technique created by Francesco Cirillo, a then-college student back in the 1980s. When he struggled to complete his assignments as a college student, he challenged himself to commit to 10-minute windows of studying. It was effective, so he bought a tomato-shaped kitchen timer to keep track of his study time, thus the term pomodoro (‘tomato’ in Italian). He went on to write a book about this technique, and it has gained traction till today.

The Pomodoro Technique is simple. It’s simply committing to blocks of study time, followed by short breaks, then back to studying, and so on. When studying for a test, many students have attested to the effectiveness of this method. This method is no different in its application for physics students. For instance, in a H2 physics tuition class, there are multiple formulas needed to be learnt. The Pomodoro Technique can help in dividing your time in digesting and memorising each equation.

What are the steps in applying the Pomodoro Technique?

1. Write down your task list for the day and get your timer ready.

2. Set the timer. The duration depends on you – some people go for 15 minutes while some do 25 minutes.

3. Work on one task from your list until the first duration is up. This counts as one pomodoro.

4. Take a five-minute break after each pomodoro.

5. Return to your tasks until you reach 4 pomodoros. After that, take an extended 15-30 minute break.

Each time you complete a pomodoro, it’s recommended to write it down or mark your progress with an ‘X’. This gives you a visual cue of how much you have accomplished and gets you in the mood to achieve more.

Can the Pomodoro Technique boost my will to accomplish a task?

Yes, it can! The Pomodoro Technique can gamify your learning. Think of it as a quest item you earn or a level you clear. You’ll be motivated to do more and thus, check off several things from your study list. For this, consider setting an ideal number of pomodoros to complete each day or push yourself further by completing a huge task in a fixed number of pomodoros.

Pomodoro also allows you to steer clear of procrastination and distractions. Since you’re working with a short timeframe, you’re motivated to give your best within that time. This is great for students who find it challenging to study for long periods. As for distractions, it’s easy to be interrupted by text messages or social media notifications that come in during our study time. To avoid even the smallest interruptions, the Pomodoro Technique encourages you to resist these distractions during that timeframe and focus on the task at hand.

Conclusion

For physics students, understanding concepts, theories, equations, and the like can be quite challenging. On top of enrolling in a reputable physics tuition class for quality instruction, maximise your learning when you couple the Pomodoro Technique with the right exam tips.