The Pomodoro technique: The simple focus method that changed how I work (and can help you do more with less stress)
You don’t need to work harder. You need to work smarter—and with breaks.
If you’re anything like me, you love what you do. You’re passionate. Maybe even a little obsessive. And it’s easy to blur the line between work and life—especially when you're freelancing, running your own business, or building something from the ground up.
For the first couple of years in my freelance career, things were manageable. Then came the growth: more clients, more projects, more responsibilities. I was “in the zone” all the time—and I thought that was a good thing.
It wasn’t.
In 2019, I hit burnout. Hard. I didn’t see it coming because I genuinely loved the work. But I was never fully “off.” I’d check campaigns on weekends, reply to social posts on holidays, and even wake up in the middle of the night to jot down ideas. Eventually, I burned out—mentally and physically. It took a full year to recover, and a few more to truly feel confident handling high-responsibility work again.
That experience changed the way I work. I had to create better boundaries, better habits—and better tools. One of the simplest but most powerful tools I found?The Pomodoro Technique.
What is the Pomodoro technique?
The Pomodoro technique is a time management method that helps you stay focused, avoid mental fatigue, and actually finish what you start. Here’s how it works:
Choose a task.
Work on it for 25 minutes (that’s one Pomodoro).
Take a 5-minute break.
After four Pomodoros, take a longer break (15–30 minutes).
That’s it. Simple—but effective.
And it’s flexible. You can customize the lengths to suit your flow. Personally, I sometimes stretch my Pomodoros to 40–45 minutes with longer breaks. Tools like Pomofocus.io make it easy to adjust this, while also helping you estimate and track your time per task. (I highly recommend it—it’s free and beautifully minimal.)
Why Pomodoro works—especially if you’re always “On”
The biggest lie hustle culture tells us is that breaks slow us down. That stopping means falling behind.
But here’s what I’ve learned the hard way: Breaks aren’t the problem. Lack of structure is.
The Pomodoro Technique gives you structure without pressure. It allows deep focus—but also creates natural stopping points where you can breathe, stretch, walk, reset. Your brain needs that. Especially if you’re doing creative, strategic, or high-stakes work.
What Pomodoro has helped me with:
Prioritization – You can’t Pomodoro everything. It forces you to ask: What actually matters today?
Avoiding multitasking traps – You know those chaotic days where you’re “busy” all day and somehow accomplish nothing? Yeah, same. Pomodoro helps you focus on one task at a time.
Reducing mental fatigue – No more 3-hour stretches of sitting in one spot losing steam. The rhythm of work + rest keeps energy up and stress down.
Creativity – Breaks often bring the best ideas. By taking intentional pauses, I let my brain process, rethink, and refine.
How I use Pomodoro to start the day
One of my favorite routines is using Pomodoro before I start working. I spend 5–10 minutes in Pomofocus.io planning my day:
What are my most important tasks?
How many Pomodoros will each take?
What won’t I do today?
This simple planning process acts like an anchor—it keeps me grounded when things get busy or chaotic. And it helps prevent the feeling of being “all over the place.”
Final thoughts: focus isn’t about hustle. It’s about rhythm.
The Pomodoro Technique didn’t just help me become more productive. It helped me recover my sense of clarity and control over my work.
If you’re a business owner, creative, or marketer who’s struggling to focus—or feeling dangerously close to burnout—give Pomodoro a try. You don’t need to be perfect with it. Just experiment. Tweak. Make it your own.
For me, it was one of the first small habits that helped build a healthier, more sustainable work life.
And honestly? It’s now a non-negotiable part of my day.
Try it yourself:
👉 www.pomofocus.io
And if you want to build better work hygiene, find better balance, or rethink how your marketing team works—let’s talk. At Hinoki Digital, I help businesses work smarter, not harder.
