If in the focused study session, you had a little trouble focusing, try this alteration. This is called the Pomodoro Technique as it is named after a tomato timer the inventor of this study skill used to time himself.
Step 1: Plan (1-2 minutes)
- Decide what you want to accomplish in the study session.
Step 2: Set a timer for 25 minutes
Step 3: Start your study session
- Interact with the material. If other things start coming into your mind, write them down on a separate piece of paper and get back to the task immediately. This keeps your mind from wandering off too long.
Step 4: Take a 5-minute break
This is called a Pomodoro Session: one 25-minute focused task and one 5-minute break. Once you have completed one session, you simply repeat the steps. However, after 4 Pomodoro Sessions, you need to take a 20-to-30-minute break before starting another one.