Pomodoro is great for starting. But for IB-level work — Extended Essay drafting, IA writing, long-form math — you need longer blocks where ideas can connect. Here's how to use both.
01
Use Pomodoro to START
Stuck staring at a blank page? Run 1–2 Pomodoros to break inertia. Starting is 90% of the battle.
02
Switch to 90-min deep blocks
Once you're moving, drop the timer and run a 90-min focused block. Phone in another room, single task.
03
Take a real break between blocks
Walk outside for 15 min. No phone. Real recovery, not Instagram recovery.
04
Cap at 3 deep blocks per day
Beyond 3 deep blocks, quality collapses. Stop and do shallow work (notes, organizing, email).
05
Match block length to task type
Math problems → Pomodoro. Essay sections → 90-min. Memorization → short Pomodoros + spaced recall.