Whenever you're overwhelmed with a list of to-dos on your checklist, too many assignments to get done in only a day or night, it can be incredibly overwhelming. In fact, it can be so overwhelming that it's difficult to get started on any. I've been there, you've been there: it's when we watch the highest volume of Netflix or HBO.

However, one technique and life hack I've followed to surpass this mental barrier and block is the Pomodoro technique. The idea for the technique is to not let yourself spend too much time on one task, and I don't follow the actual standard technique, but my own variation of it. The technique involves setting a timer to 25 minutes to focus on one task, and then taking a 3-5 minute break. One interval of 25 minutes is called a "Pomodoro," and you repeat the process of focus and then breaks three more times until the fourth "Pomodoro," where you take a longer break of 15 to 20.

Initially, I hadn't heard of the Pomodoro technique, but I had an incredible amount of administrative tasks to do in one day: send financial aid documents, edit articles, send e-mails, read hundreds of pages, et cetera. I knew that I would be completely engulfed if I tried to completely complete one of those tasks all at once, so I dedicated myself to doing things in 15-minute bursts, or "Pomodoros."

I was immediately surprised by the results: obviously, some things don't take 15 minutes, so it gave me confidence after I sent 5 e-mails in 15 minutes, and then it also gave me momentum to send W-2 and 1040 forms to CollegeBoard.

Then, I started expanding the technique to reading or studying for only 15 to 20-minute bursts and then rotating to another topic. For me, it worked magically. Although one "Pomodoro" could result in absolutely no results, in myself understanding absolutely nothing and getting nothing done. However, I could come back in 40 minutes to an hour and come back to have the complete opposite effect. I realized that there was an incredible amount of value in stepping back and coming back to things with fresher eyes. During the "break," per se, there were unexpected things I got done, like doing my laundry (it really doesn't take as long as I thought) or catching up on the news.

In reality, this might be something that just works for people like me. I'm very prone to overanalyzing and overthinking tasks or issues and trying to perfect tasks that are essentially impossible to perfect. I can spend four or five hours on a project, paper, or assignment, and feel like crap afterward and feel like I could have done better or enough. I realized that, at least for me, those four hours are better off being spread out in "Pomodoro" bursts that I could look back to with fresh eyes and a fresh perspective. Another reality is that some things aren't actually that important to do, and that 15 to 20 minutes is actually a long time to spend on some things.

The key is to allow no distraction during this "Pomodoro," because if you're only going to spend 15 minutes on something, you better well make it count. 15 minutes of uninterrupted concentration, at the end of the day, is more productive than 30 minutes rife with distractions.

I wouldn't say that I've accomplished great things due to the Pomodoro technique. I wouldn't even say that I've put forth some of my best work, at times. At its limitation, the Pomodoro technique relies on keeping thought processes and thoughts somewhat shallow, and just moving fast and dynamic enough to get things done. The best articles and best papers I've written required hours of deep thought and polishing, something the Pomodoro technique won't allow for when I'm busy.

But if you just have a lot of things on your checklist and just need to get them done? If your focus right now is on pure volume of completion and accomplishment than being an artist? Then try the Pomodoro technique, especially if you're an OCD-type like myself.

The common Serenity Prayer written by Reinhold Niebuhr goes as follows:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

To me, the most valuable part of the Pomodoro technique, especially in times of distress, is the ability to know that difference.