From colouring pencils to cooking timers – how being regularly distracted can help you learn more

Studying intensively for 25 minutes, then taking a break for five minutes – called the Pomodoro technique after the Spanish word for “tomato” (the technique’s inventor started out using a tomato-shaped kitchen timer) can help reset your concentration and let you do and retain more than pushing on for longer periods. Exactly how long you like to work for before taking a break is up to you but your optimal period of focus is probably in the 20-45 minute range.

The important thing is to take active breaks, focusing your mind on something totally different during your five-minute breaks. Like colouring… you can download free images to print and colour in by hand or colour in free images online… we even have a few library penguin colouring books from yesteryear left to give away!

So what are you waiting for? Go colour yourself happy! 🙂