Burnt-out Pune techie now works just 4 hours a day. No phone, no distractions. What's the Pomodoro trick she swears by?
Pomodoro Technique
. After struggling with burnout and endless work hours, Shrutika turned to a focused system that changed her daily life. She recently shared the full breakdown in an Instagram post that's now grabbing attention for all the right reasons.
Physical timer
To start, Shrutika ditched her phone and used a physical timer instead — a key part of avoiding digital distractions. Her desk was kept clear, her focus limited to a single task, and her phone was banished to another room. With just a notebook and water bottle at her side, she was ready to get to work.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Please select course:
Select a Course Category
Healthcare
healthcare
Public Policy
Design Thinking
Operations Management
Management
Data Science
Project Management
Cybersecurity
Artificial Intelligence
others
PGDM
Leadership
Others
Digital Marketing
MCA
CXO
Technology
Data Analytics
Finance
MBA
Data Science
Product Management
Degree
Skills you'll gain:
Financial Analysis in Healthcare
Financial Management & Investing
Strategic Management in Healthcare
Process Design & Analysis
Duration:
12 Weeks
Indian School of Business
Certificate Program in Healthcare Management
Starts on
Jun 13, 2024
Get Details
Pomodoro trick
The core of her method? The 25-minute rule — also known as the Pomodoro Technique. Shrutika works in short, focused sprints of 25 minutes, giving her full attention to one high-priority task at a time. During these intervals, there are no messages, no emails, and no 'quick' calls. It's all about deep work.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
15 most beautiful women in the world
Topgentlemen.com
Undo
5-minute break
Then comes the non-negotiable active 5-minute break. Shrutika recommends stepping outside for some sunlight, doing a few stretches or push-ups, and drinking water — but absolutely no doomscrolling. These breaks help reset the brain and keep energy levels steady.
Why does the Pomodoro technique work?
According to Shrutika, it's biology. She said that our brains aren't built for hours of uninterrupted focus — they max out around the 25-minute mark. Pushing beyond that is what leaves most people mentally drained by mid-afternoon.
Her results? Pretty impressive:
– A 200% jump in output
– No more dragging through 10-hour workdays
– Clearer decision-making
– And best of all, a real
work-life balance
She also shared a few pro tips for anyone wanting to try it out:
- Batching similar tasks together
-Using breaks to move the body because sitting kills productivity
- Tracking completed sessions (she aims for 6–8 a day)
- After four sprints, take a longer break of 15–30 minutes
What's a big no-no?
Perhaps the most important rule of all — no using your phone as a timer. Shrutika insists that it's the fastest way to fall back into distraction mode.
Who created the Pomodoro technique?
As per information on his website, Francesco Cirillo is the creator of the globally popular Pomodoro Technique — a time-management method he developed as a university student trying to work smarter, not longer. Francesco has worked across startups, multinationals, and as a mentor to thousands of professionals, always focused on boosting productivity through smarter, more efficient systems.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
16 minutes ago
- Mint
United Nations to Close 150 Clinics in Nigeria as Aid Cuts Hit Food Relief
(Bloomberg) -- The United Nations' food agency will shut half of its clinics in Nigeria's conflict-ravaged northeast region this month, as it begins winding down humanitarian support due to aid cuts. The World Food Programme said it received no funding to continue food and nutrition support for 1.3 million people, despite an urgent appeal for $130 million to sustain operations through 2025. Those programs will now end in August, and 'the immediate and most brutal effect will be on child nutrition,' Chi Lael, head of communications at the WFP, said on Monday. Half of the 300 clinics 'we run will be closed this month, cutting off lifesaving treatment for 300,000 children,' she said. A record 31 million Nigerians are facing food insecurity, according to the UN, with nearly one-fifth in the insurgency-plagued northeast suffering from acute hunger. Sign up here for the twice-weekly Next Africa newsletter, and subscribe to the Next Africa podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen. Nigeria's ministry of health didn't immediately respond to questions about how it plans to fill the gap. This year, the federal government allocated just $326,000 for managing malnutrition and stunting in high-burden states. The UN and other humanitarian agencies in Africa have seen a massive drop in donor funds, after US President Donald Trump slashed foreign aid. European countries are also diverting resources away from overseas assistance to support domestic priorities. In July, Geneva-based Doctors Without Borders said that deadly child malnutrition was soaring in northern Nigeria due to sharp drop in foreign aid. 'The fear is that when food assistance ends, so will stability in northern Nigeria,' said Lael. 'And the longer this is left unfunded, the harder it will be to pull the region back.' More stories like this are available on
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Jessie J hospitalised weeks after breast cancer surgery
Jessie J hospitalised weeks after breast cancer surgery Singer-songwriter Jessie J shared health updates recently after recovering from a health batlle. Just six weeks after sharing that she underwent surgery to treat her "early breast cancer," the singer shared that she was back in the hospital, reported E! News. "How I spent the last 24 hours," Jessie wrote on her Instagram Stories alongside a photo of an IV in her arm. "6 weeks post surgery and I was back in the same ward I was after my surgery. Not expected or planned." "I had and still have symptoms that pointed towards a blood clot on the lung," she continued. "IT IS NOT A BLOOD CLOT THANK GOD." She shared that doctotrs have identified some infection. "They ran a lot of tests which ended up showing I have an infection still trying to figure out what and a little fluid on my lungs," she said, adding, "Finding it hard to breathe in, but I discharged myself last night I hate being in hospital and will continue the investigation as an outpatient," reported E! News. The 37-year-old's hospitalization came two months after she shared her initial breast cancer diagnosis on social media. And since then, she has been candid about how difficult the journey has been. "The recovery physically is far from quick or easy, and mentally it's been the most challenging time for me," she wrote in a separate post to her Instagram Stories. "Especially as a Mum with a toddler and being unable to be the mother I usually am." "Having to change the plans for my career for this year has been frustrating after working so hard to get to this point and excited to do it all," she continued. "But it's life, I know that. And don't get me wrong, getting the all clear is incredible. But that result didn't speed up or make the recovery from the surgery any easier physically." "I love moving and working and being up and active but I can't be right now, and that's what it is," she added. "I am finding the strength in knowing that all can be adjusted to align with a slower pace and the support of my very small inner circle." Jessie updated her fans about her cancer diagnosis."I was diagnosed with early breast cancer," she said in a June 3 Instagram video. "Cancer sucks in any form, but I'm holding on to the word 'early.'"Jessie also added humor into her health update, as she continued, "It's a very dramatic way to get a boob job. I am going to disappear for a bit after Summertime Ball to have my surgery, and I will come back with massive tits and more music," reported E! News. "I do not talk about it enough," she shared. "I'm not processing it because I'm working so hard. I also know how much sharing in the past has helped me with other people giving me their love and support and also their own stories. I'm an open book."Adding that she wants to stand alongside others who are battling cancer, she said, "It breaks my heart that so many people are going through so much similar and worse--that's the bit that kills me," reported E! News.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
APD Foundation from Mangaluru Inducted into WHO's Global Civil Society Commission
Mangaluru: In a significant international recognition, Mangaluru-based Anti Pollution Drive Foundation (APDF) has been inducted into the Civil Society Commission of the World Health Organisation (WHO), joining a global network of organisations shaping the future of public health and environmental well-being. The Commission, created by WHO to strengthen collaboration with civil society actors, focuses on key areas including primary healthcare, gender rights, health equity, and community-based health interventions. APDF's membership was confirmed through a letter jointly signed by Commission co-chairs Ravi Ram and Lisa Hilmi. The Foundation was selected from a global pool of nearly 680 applicants after a multi-phase review and due diligence process by WHO. APD Foundation has earned a reputation for pioneering projects in air quality management, inclusive sanitation, and occupational health in urban settings. Its initiatives—such as Smart Swaccha Mangaluru (in partnership with UN-Habitat), Shuddha Gaali, and Waste Wise Cities—have combined grassroots activism with data-driven policy advocacy. Commenting on the milestone, APDF founder Abdullah A. Rehman said, 'This inclusion validates our approach of combining community action with evidence-based solutions. It also brings attention to how smaller cities like Mangaluru can be models of public health innovation.' The WHO Commission held its first annual general meeting in March 2024 and laid out a two-year action plan while forming three working groups to guide engagement with global civil society. APDF's induction is seen as a move towards diversifying voices in international forums and ensuring representation from cities outside of traditional urban centres.
