For those who can't keep their concentration. Dramatically change productivity with "25 min + 5 min" Pomodoro Technique

Is lack of "Motivation" because your will is weak?

"Okay, I'm going to work (study)!" You get pumped up, but 15 minutes later you are opening Twitter (X). "The task that was supposed to be finished today is not even half done..."

Do you have such an experience? Many people tend to blame their lack of concentration on "weak will" or "lack of guts". However, that is a mistake. Modern people are surrounded by too many "distractions (notifications, advertisements, easy entertainment)", and the human brain is made not to keep concentrating for a long time.

What is needed is not guts but a "mechanism to switch the brain to concentration mode". The strongest method for that is the "Pomodoro Technique" loved all over the world.

Pomodoro Timer25-minute focus + 5-minute break cycle timer with browser notifications

What is Pomodoro Technique?

It is a time management technique devised by Italian entrepreneur Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s. The "tomato-shaped kitchen timer (Pomodoro = tomato in Italian)" he loved in his student days is the origin of the name.

Basic Rules

The rules are surprisingly simple.

Decide a Task: Decide only one thing "what to do for this 25 minutes".
Concentrate for 25 Minutes (1 Pomodoro): Set the timer and do absolutely nothing else but that task.
Break for 5 Minutes: Rest your brain completely.
Repeat 4 Sets: After 2 hours (25+5 × 4), take a long break of 15-30 minutes.

Why is it Effective? Scientific Reasons

You might think "What can I do in just 25 minutes?", but actually this "shortness" is the key.

1. Lower Psychological Hurdle (Small Step)

If you are told to "Study for 3 hours", the brain reacts with rejection, but if it's "Just 25 minutes", you can think "Well, I'll try". Since motivation has the property that "it doesn't come out unless you start doing (work excitement)", it is important to lower the hurdle to take the first step to the limit.

2. Use "Deadline Effect" (Parkinson's Law)

You probably have the experience that "Summer vacation homework is not finished until the last day". Humans have the property (Parkinson's Law) to "expand work using all the given time". Conversely, by delimiting "There are only 25 minutes left", the brain exerts explosive concentration and rotates fully to finish within the time.

3. Unfinished Tasks Remain in Memory (Zeigarnik Effect)

When 25 minutes pass and the timer rings, it forcibly interrupts even in the middle of work. By stopping in the state of "I want to do more!", the brain continues to remember the task strongly, and becomes able to resume instantly at top speed in the next set (after break). This is called "Zeigarnik Effect" in psychology.

Let's Practice with Jenee's "Pomodoro Timer"

To practice Pomodoro Technique, an accurate timer is essential. A smartphone clock app can be a substitute, but Jenee's Pomodoro Timer25-minute focus + 5-minute break cycle timer with browser notifications has features specialized for this method.

Features

No Installation Required / Free: Use immediately just by opening the browser on PC or smartphone.
One-tap Switching of 25 min / 5 min: After concentration mode ends, it switches to break timer automatically (or with one tap).
Notification by Sound: Even if you are not looking at the screen, sound rings so you don't need to care about time.
Simple UI: Minimal design excluding extra information as much as possible so as not to get distracted.

"How to Spend Break" to Maximize Results

What is most important in Pomodoro Technique is actually "5 minutes break". If you spend wrong way here, concentration does not recover in the next set.

❌ What not to do

Looking at Smartphone: SNS, news, email check overuse the brain (especially visual cortex). It does not become a break.
Thinking about continuation of work: It is important to disconnect the brain.

✅ Recommended way to spend

Close Eyes: Shut off visual information and cool down the brain.
Drink Water: Lack of water in the brain is the enemy of concentration decline.
Deep Breath / Stretch: Loosen stiff body and improve blood flow.
Look Far Away: Rest the focus adjustment muscles of eyes.

Applied Edition: Find Your Own Rhythm

The basis is "25 min + 5 min", but if you get used to it, you may adjust it to yourself.

When extremely tired, When doing simple tasks

"15 min Concentration + 3 min Break" Lower the hurdle further and prioritize starting anyway.

When you want to enter Zone (Ultradian Rhythm)

"50 min Concentration + 10 min Break" Human biological rhythm (Ultradian Rhythm) is said to be 90 minutes cycle, but there is also a theory that deep concentration lasts about 50 minutes. Recommended for tasks requiring immersion such as programming or writing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. 25 minutes passed, but since it's a bad stop, can I continue?

A. In principle, stop sharply. If you continue "A little more", the brain gets tired and total productivity drops. Entering break in the state of "I want to continue quickly" creates the next concentration.

Q. What do I do with tasks that do not finish in 1 Pomodoro (25 min)?

A. Split the task from the beginning. Instead of "Write a proposal", dividing specifically like "1. Plan structure (1 Pomo)", "2. Collect information (2 Pomo)", "3. Write (3 Pomo)" makes progress easier to see.

Q. Notification sound does not ring!

A. Please check if automatic playback of site is allowed in browser settings, or volume of PC/Smartphone is not muted. Also, since there is a browser specification (Chrome etc.) that sound does not ring unless you click the screen only for the first time, please start after tapping the screen once.

Summary

Concentration is not talent but technology. "Try hard for only 25 minutes, rest 5 minutes". Just by repeating this rhythm, work is tidied up surprisingly, and moreover, it becomes hard to get tired.

Why not open Jenee's Pomodoro Timer now and start the first 25 minutes? You will surely be surprised at the potential of your concentration.