How to Stop Procrastination: The Pomodoro Technique

HSCprep Team

March 26, 2025

26 min read

Test

Introduction:

When you're drowning in HSC study, time management can feel like an impossible puzzle.

Key Concept

Enter the Pomodoro Technique – a simple method where you study in short, focused bursts (typically 25 minutes) and then take a brief break (around 5 minutes).

It's named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer ("pomodoro" means tomato in Italian) that the creator Francesco Cirillo used. This technique has become popular among students worldwide. But does it actually work for HSC students facing long syllabi, back-to-back assignments, and the intense pressure of Year 12?

What is the Pomodoro Technique and Why Do HSC Students Swear By It?

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that breaks study time into manageable chunks. A classic Pomodoro cycle is:

  • 25 minutes of focused study on a single task (one "Pomodoro" session)
  • 5 minutes of break to rest your mind
  • After four 25/5 cycles, you take a longer break of about 15–30 minutes to recharge​ ​ This structured cycle is surprisingly simple, but many students find it powerful for beating procrastination and boosting productivity.

Why HSC students find it useful

Year 12 comes with lengthy study hours and huge content to cover. Studying in shorter bursts can prevent burnout and keep your mind fresh.

Insight
Rather than slogging through a 3-hour marathon (and ending up exhausted or distracted), Pomodoro gives you built-in breaks to relax briefly and then refocus. Research shows that this can actually enhance your concentration when you return to work​

By limiting each study session to a set time, you create a sense of urgency that can make it easier to get started and stay on task.

"you'll feel bad if 25 minutes goes by and you have nothing to show for it because you got distracted" - HSCprep English Tutor
— Year 12 Student

In other words, knowing a break is coming up helps you sprint hard during the study burst.

Beating procrastination

One of the hardest parts of study is just starting – especially when faced with a mountain of HSC content. The Pomodoro Technique shines here. If you're dreading an assignment or keep putting off study, tell yourself: "Just do 25 minutes." This small commitment feels much less scary. Often, you'll find once you start, momentum carries you forward​

An academic coach from Project Academy notes that it can be easier to commit to 25 minutes – "the same as watching an episode of TV" – and that more often than not, you end up going longer and sometimes even hit a productive "flow" state​
— Year 12 Student

Pomodoro essentially tricks your brain into starting a task it might otherwise procrastinate, by making the task window seem short and doable.

Staying focused and fresh:

Key Concept

HSC study isn't just about logging hours – it's about quality focus. Our brains struggle with sustained concentration over long periods.

In fact, cognitive research from the University of Illinois found that taking short breaks can prevent attention and performance from declining during a long task. Regular breaks give your brain a chance to rest so you can come back recharged.

A recent study even found that students who took systematic, timed breaks reported less fatigue and distraction and more concentration than those who took breaks whenever they felt like it. Remarkably, both groups got a similar amount done – but the Pomodoro-style breakers did it with better mood and in a shorter effective time.

Insight
The takeaway? Short, focused study sessions with planned breaks can maintain your mental sharpness, whereas grinding non-stop might lead to diminishing returns as you tire out.

How to Use the Pomodoro Technique for HSC Success

"Okay, sounds great in theory – but how do I actually do this?" Here's a step-by-step guide to implementing Pomodoro in your HSC study routine:

1. Pick a Task and Set a Goal: Choose one specific study task to tackle.

Example
Finish a set of math questions, write an English essay paragraph, or revise a biology chapter. Having a clear goal for the session (e.g. "summarise notes on Module 3" or "do 20 practice questions") will keep you focused.

2. Set a Timer for 25 Minutes: Use a timer (your phone, a kitchen timer, or a Pomodoro app) and commit to working nonstop for that period. During this 25-minute Pomodoro session, eliminate distractions. Put your phone on silent or in another room, log out of social media, and let family know you're in a focus block​. It's only 25 minutes – make it count.

3. Work Intensely on the Task: Focus deeply on your chosen task until the timer rings. Pretend you're in an exam – only this task matters right now. Because you know your time is limited, try to make as much progress as possible. This pressure can actually be motivating; you might be surprised how much you get done.

Tip
If you suddenly remember something else ("Oh, I need to reply to that message" or "What about that other assignment?"), jot it on a notepad quickly and keep working. Stay in the zone.

4. Take a 5-Minute Break: When the timer goes off, stop working and step away. Congrats, you've completed one Pomodoro! Now reward yourself with a short 5-minute break. Stand up and stretch, grab a snack or drink water, or just close your eyes and breathe. The key is to rest your mind. However, keep your break short – don't start scrolling TikTok or watching a Netflix episode, or you might lose track of time. Maybe set a 5-minute timer for your break if needed.

Tip
Avoid screens during the short break – a quick walk or some fresh air will refresh you more effectively​

5. Repeat the Cycle: After your 5-minute break, start the next 25-minute Pomodoro on your next task or continuing where you left off. After four Pomodoro sessions, take a longer break of 15–30 minutes to recharge fully​

6. Customise the timings if needed: The classic 25/5 split works for many, but it isn't magic – you can adjust it to suit the subject or your personal focus span.

Example
Some HSC students prefer 50 minutes study / 10 minutes break (essentially two Pomodoros back-to-back) for subjects that require deeper concentration, like writing an essay or tackling complex Extension Maths problems. In fact, tutors often suggest longer sessions for senior students if 25 minutes feels too short. The rule of thumb is to keep your work period long enough to make progress but short enough that you don't burn out or lose focus.

Why Short Bursts and Breaks Boost Your Brain (Backed by Research)

Skeptical that a 5-minute break could make you more productive? Science is on the Pomodoro Technique's side. Research in cognitive psychology has found that our brains tend to maintain a higher level of focus in shorter sprints, and that taking brief, regular breaks helps reset our attention span.

Example
For example, a study in the British Journal of Educational Psychology (2023) found that students who took systematic 6-minute breaks every 24 minutes (almost exactly Pomodoro timing) reported less mental fatigue and distraction, and equal task completion in less time, compared to students who took breaks whenever they felt like it.

Think of your attention as a muscle – it needs periodic rest to avoid fatigue. Pushing through without breaks might seem noble, but it often leads to "study fatigue" where you're reading words but not absorbing much. If you've ever noticed yourself re-reading the same paragraph four times with zero comprehension, you're experiencing this mental fatigue.

Insight
Pomodoro's pauses combat this by giving your brain breathing room.

Fighting burnout

Year 12 is a marathon, not a sprint, and burnout is a real danger.

One HSC top performer, Tim Li, noted that "studying too much is unhealthy, puts you under prolonged stress, and may lead to exhaustion and burnout". To manage his stress, he used Pomodoro-style breaks – 25 minutes study, 5 minutes break – throughout his study sessions.
— Year 12 Student

By scheduling plenty of short breaks, he avoided burnout and stayed consistent. His successful Year 12 routine shows how taking care of your mental stamina with planned breaks can actually help you study longer overall. After all, if you exhaust yourself on Monday with a 6-hour no-break cramming session, how productive will you be on Tuesday? It's better to maintain a steady pace.

Pomodoro in Practice: Tips from Top Students and Tutors

It's one thing to know the theory, but how do real HSC students use Pomodoro day-to-day? Here are some tips and testimonials drawn from successful students and education experts:

  • Make it a habit: Consistency is key. Try to use Pomodoro cycles in your daily study for a week and see how it feels. Many students report that it takes a session or two to get used to the rhythm, but once they do, they actually look forward to the mini-breaks and feel more in control of their study time.
  • Use breaks wisely: The short break is meant to refresh you, so do something genuinely relaxing or energising. Grab a healthy snack, stretch your legs, or chat with a family member. Avoid activities that could accidentally suck you in for longer (looking at you, social media and video games).
Tip
One tutoring blog suggests even parents can help here – for example, by restricting phone use to only break times or having the phone in another room, so students aren't tempted mid-study. The Pomodoro method itself helps enforce this by design.
  • Adjust for longer tasks: If you're in the middle of an essay and the timer goes off, you have a choice: stop and break, or finish your thought and then break. Pomodoro is flexible. If you feel you're on a roll, it's okay to extend a few minutes to conclude a section – just don't push so long that you lose the benefit of a break. Pomodoro is a means to an end – the end being high-quality focus. So use your judgment.
  • Leverage apps and tools: We mentioned apps earlier – these can provide structure and even fun. Explore tools like Forest, Focus To-Do, Pomodoro Tracker, or even a simple kitchen timer if the ticking motivates you. Some students like the tactile feeling of a physical timer because it's a clear signal: work now, break later.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

While Pomodoro is simple, there are a few common mistakes HSC students should watch out for:

Too many or too few breaks:

The 5-minute break can sometimes stretch longer if you're not disciplined. A "quick look at Instagram" can easily become a 20-minute scroll-fest. Don't fall into that trap – use a timer for your breaks if needed, or save the fun stuff for the longer break.

Conversely, some students might skip breaks thinking it will help them get more done. That usually backfires as your concentration wanes.

Insight
**Solution:** Treat break time as part of your study schedule – it's only 5 minutes, but commit to resuming work when it's over. And remember, the break is there to keep you effective, not to waste time.

Not planning tasks ahead:

If you don't decide what to do in your Pomodoro, you could waste half the session just figuring that out. It's better to plan your study blocks beforehand – e.g., "After dinner, I'll do 2 Pomodoros on Chemistry revision (topics 5 and 6), then 1 Pomodoro on Math homework." Having a clear plan means you can dive straight in when the timer starts​

Without a plan, you risk spending those valuable focused minutes just shuffling papers or thinking about what to do. Using breaks unproductively: There's nothing wrong with relaxing – that's the point of a break – but certain activities can sabotage your momentum.

For example, watching a compelling YouTube video might make it hard to stop when break time is over (just one more video… and there goes your schedule). Better break activities are ones that rest your mind without completely engrossing it: walk around, get a snack, listen to one song, or chat briefly with a sibling or parent (as long as they know you have to get back to work soon!).

Giving up too soon:

The first time you try Pomodoro, you might feel a bit rushed or distracted ("25 minutes is too short!" or "I kept checking the timer!"). That's normal when adjusting to a new system. Try it for a few days to a week. Often, once you get used to it, you'll start entering those focus zones more readily.

Tip
Also tweak the timing if needed (try 30/5 or 45/10, etc.). The key is finding a balance between focus and rest that suits you. Don't abandon the concept of structured study sessions just because the first attempt wasn't perfect. Every student is different – customise and persist a bit to see results.

The Verdict: Is Pomodoro Worth It for HSC?

Key Concept

Absolutely – for many students, Pomodoro is a game-changer for HSC study. It addresses common challenges like procrastination ("I can't start studying"), lack of focus ("I keep drifting off after 10 minutes"), and burnout ("I studied all day but can't absorb anything now").

By breaking your study into focused slices with planned breaks, you're essentially training your brain for concentration endurance while also giving it the recovery time it needs. Think of it like interval training for a sport: periods of intense effort followed by short rests to get stronger.

HSC teachers and tutors often encourage smart time management techniques, and Pomodoro is one of the simplest to implement. It's backed by productivity research and widely used in both school and workplace settings because it helps people make the most of their time.

As a Year 12 or keen Year 11 student, your schedule is packed – Pomodoro can actually free up time by helping you get more done in less time, and free up mental energy by reducing stress. In the end, the Pomodoro Technique is more than just a timing trick; it's a way to build discipline and momentum. It encourages you to set goals, avoid distractions, and reflect on your work in cycles.

Insight
Many high-achievers use some form of this technique, even if they don't follow the 25/5 formula exactly, because it's inherently about working smarter, not longer.

If you haven't tried it yet, give it a go during your next study session. All you need is a timer and a task to get started. You might find that those tomatoes can turn into academic gold. And if it doesn't mesh with your style, at least you will have learned more about how you focus best.

Need Extra Support?

Feeling like you could use some extra help mastering these exam techniques or filling content gaps? You're not alone – and support is available. Consider reaching out to HSC tutoring services or exploring study resources at hscprep.com.au.

Our experienced HSC tutors can work through past papers with you, provide feedback on your exam responses, and teach you proven strategies to sharpen your exam technique. Whether it's time management drills, stress-reduction methods, or targeted practice on weak areas, we can help you walk into your exams confident and prepared.

Don't let avoidable mistakes hold you back from your desired results. Visit HSCprep Tutoring to find out how we can support you in the final steps of your HSC journey and help you achieve your personal best on exam day. You've got this – and we've got your back!