Stay Focused and More Productive with The Pomodoro Technique by Maram Barakat, M.A.

Many of us might have found ourselves deciding to clean the house, think of random things, or engage in other distractions instead of actually working on a task or deadline. Procrastination is very real! How can we approach that?

The Pomodoro Technique is a method that helps you stay focused and more productive in shorter intervals. Specifically, the idea is to break your day into 25-minute intervals (called a Pomodoro) and take a 5-minute break between each interval.

After 4 Pomodoros, you can take a longer break (15-20 minutes). With productivity often being so closely linked to self-worth, it is important to find a way to get through personal and professional work to feel content.

The Pomodoro Technique:

Choose a task to work on
Set a timer for 25 minutes
Work on the task until the timer beeps (no distractions!)
Take a 5 minute break
Repeat the cycle 4 times - take a longer break after 4 sessions

Some clients find this to be really helpful. If you've tried it, let us know your thoughts!

Maram Barakat, M.A., is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She has a master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, with a special focus on global mental health and research methods. She is primarily interested in providing access to quality mental health services in low-to-middle income countries and vulnerable populations. She is especially passionate about working with survivors of abuse and violence. In fact, she has integrated her passion with her academic interests by focusing her master's thesis on culturally adapting and implementing cognitive processing therapy to Syrian refugee women who have experienced sexual violence during and post-displacement. Maram has worked as a mental health professional and advocate in Lebanon, Uganda, and New York for the past six years. At the Lukin Center, Maram will be taking on the role of social media manager. Her main responsibilities entail managing and monitoring the center's social media platforms, creating content, increasing engagement, and more. Apart from her professional interests, she enjoys acting, karaoke, and extreme sports.