Time Management | I'm using the Pomodoro Technique.

"I'm bored with studying for my certification..."
"Is there a way to keep studying a language in a fun way?"

You may have started studying a language or for a certification with great enthusiasm, but as the study period gets longer, many people likely start to feel this kind of hesitation.

In this article, I have summarized how to deal with this for those who are feeling bored with their daily studies or want to continue in a fun way.
It's also a productivity-boosting technique that can be used for work!

1 It's normal to get bored with studying. It's fine to take a break♪

No matter how much you love something, there is a limit to how long you can continue without a break.
This is even more true for studies you aren't used to.
It is completely normal to get bored or feel exhausted with daily studying, and there is no need to feel guilty or inferior!
You are managing your daily priorities to study, so it's fine to take a little break.
There is no point if you push yourself too hard and it interferes with your daily life.

However, if you take too much time off, you might forget what you worked so hard to learn, so I recommend setting a "schedule that includes break times" in advance.

2 The "Pomodoro Technique": A study method that accounts for break times

A prime example of a schedule that considers break times is the "Pomodoro Technique."

The Pomodoro Technique is a method that maintains focus and increases productivity simultaneously by alternating between work and break sessions.
Devised in the 1980s by Francesco Cirillo, an Italian who was a university student at the time, it is a technique used not only when you want to focus on studying but also in business settings.
"I passed my bookkeeping exam using the Pomodoro Technique!"—I might want to say something like that...!

2.1 How to do the Pomodoro Technique

The basic steps of the Pomodoro Technique are as follows, and it is very simple.

Here are some recommended ways to set the timer.
・The timer on your smartphone (this is the easiest way to start)
・A Pomodoro Technique app on your smartphone (search for "Pomodoro Timer"♪)
・A YouTube video for the Pomodoro Technique (search for "Pomodoro Timer")

・A kitchen timer (I recommend having two: one for work time and one for break time)

By the way, the creator, Cirillo, apparently used a kitchen timer to measure time, and it happened to be in the shape of a tomato ("pomodoro" in Italian).
Pomodoro Technique = Tomato Technique, that's cute, isn't it?

2.2 You can adjust the work and break times yourself

My impression after practicing the Pomodoro Technique is that "the 25-minute and 5-minute settings are exquisite!"
You enter a break at the very last moment when you think, "Oh, I'm about to get bored... my focus is about to break..."
I adjust the work and break times as needed based on how I'm feeling.
I encourage you to find the timing that is most efficient and allows you to focus best.

3 Recommended ways to rest that make your break time meaningful

Whether it's the 5-minute breaks during the Pomodoro Technique or longer breaks throughout the day, it would be even better if you could use that resting time efficiently and meaningfully.
I will introduce some recommended ways to take a break.

3.1 Taking care of your body

During those precious moments when you are studying intensely and then starting again after a short break, first focus on taking care of your body.
Specifically, the key is to supply your body with plenty of blood flow, hydration, and oxygen through the following methods:
・Do light exercise or stretching
・Stay hydrated
・Take deep breaths

3.2 Changing your mood

To easily change your mood and refresh yourself, the following methods are recommended:
・Change your study location
・Smell your favorite scent

It is said that memories are solidified when paired with a location or a scent.
I even took the aroma I used while studying to the exam venue as a good luck charm!

3.3 Studying while doing other things

Perhaps there are some of you who want to stay in touch with your study material even during breaks.
In such cases, I recommend "passive studying" using your ears. Specifically:
・Play YouTube videos
・Listen to Amazon Audible in the background

This is a method you can use anytime, not just during breaks, but also while doing housework.
It is the study method I use the most.

4 Breaks are essential for solidifying memories

It is well known that resting your brain makes it easier for memories to stick.
The best thing is "sleep."
However, even when you are awake, resting your brain periodically helps organize information and allows it to be firmly stored in your brain.
Thinking about it that way, don't you think taking breaks is an important part of studying?
Taking breaks helps maintain concentration, solidifies memories, and leads to consistency in your studies—it's all good.

5 Decide on a carrot at the end of your hard work = a reward

To continue studying without getting bored, "what kind of reward awaits you after your hard work" is also an important point.

・You can become a cool version of yourself who works energetically by applying what you've learned!
・You can take a step toward independence or freelancing!
・The company gives a bonus for passing!

By the way, when I passed the Nissho Bookkeeping exam, I was paid a total of 150,000 yen for both Level 3 and Level 2.
There were some tough times during the study period, but "If I pass, I get X amount of yen!" was a huge motivation.

Keep imagining what lies ahead after your hard work!

6 If you study with the premise of taking breaks and pair it with rewards, you can continue without getting bored

No matter how much motivation you have when you start studying, it happens to everyone that they get bored or tired of repeating the same thing. After all, we are human.
That is why you should incorporate breaks into your study schedule from the beginning and pair them with rewards!