Try the Pomodoro technique to help you focus
June 17th, 2026, by
The HDR journey demands many hours of focused work including researching, writing, coding, wrangling data. Even if you are spending dedicated time on this work, it’s easy to let time slip by without feeling like you’ve achieved much.
One well-proven approach to tackle this problem is the Pomodoro technique, a time management method developed in the 1980s by Francesco Cirillo. The method involves breaking your work into short, focused intervals (typically 25 minutes) followed by a short break. Setting a small, concrete goal for each interval is an important aspect of the technique to help keep you accountable and on task.
The Curtin Library runs regular focused writing/work sessions and events for HDR students built around this framework. Shut Up and Work sessions run daily throughout semester for two hours; we also offer one-day Thesis Blasts and three-day Thesis Bootcamps. These events bring students together to work on their thesis, with breaks used to share goals, celebrate progress, build a sense of community and counter the sense of isolation which can permeate HDR life.
Of course, your schedule won’t always align with these sessions. However, if you’re working late at night, early in the morning, or fitting study around other commitments, there are DIY alternatives. While a simple timer or pomodoro app can work perfectly well, other options include different types of YouTube videos designed to help students focus on their work by providing digital environments that can induce a calm and relaxed mood as well as provide some structure - perfect for focused work. You can have the video playing in the background while you work, either in the corner of your screen or on a second screen or device.
‘Study with Me’ videos
If you haven’t encountered ‘Study With Me’ videos before, they’re worth exploring as a potential resource. Typically they are filmed in real time, and show a laptop and desk in a cosy study with a view out of the window - a city sunset slowly turning to night, trees moving gently in the breeze, or waves lapping the ocean - with an on-screen Pomodoro timer which schedules the focus sessions and breaks. Some run for an hour or so while others stretch to five or more hours. Here are some of my favourites:
Abao in Tokyo: Filmed in Tokyo, including street scenes.
Merve’s Study Corner: Filmed in various locations in Scotland and the UK.
The Sherry Formula: Filmed at different locations around the US.
Nui’s Corner: Filmed from Tahiti, French Polynesia with white sand, blue water and palm trees waving in the breeze.
Sean Study: Mainly filmed from UK based locations, but also includes scenes from Shanghai and Beijing.
Moon Diaries: Filmed in Paris, in libraries and cafes.
3D fantasy atmospheric videos
Another style of focus videos are animated fantasy-inspired atmospheric scenes created by 3D artists. They include animations and ambient music designed to calm you down and help you focus. Check some of these out and be transported to a magical world.
Inner Academica: Environments inspired by “Dark Academia, Fantasy aesthetics with a modern, elegant twist”.
ASMR Weekly: “Animated backgrounds with ambience soundscape from magical worlds”.
Rain Rider ambience: “Peaceful relaxing 3D environments, combined with matching soundscapes” including enchanted forests, cozy rooms and libraries.
Slow train rides
As someone who likes to travel by train, I’m a bit of a fan of these mesmerising videos that film the surrounding environment from the train window as it meanders through towns and country-sides. Here are just a few of the many available:
Riverside Train Ride in Gifu Japan (2 hours)
The West Highland Line, Scotland (48 minutes)
Train Journey to the Norwegian Arctic Circle (winter) (10 hours)
Royal Gorge Route Railroad, Colorado (2 hours)
Montreux to Montbovon, Switzerland (40 minutes)
Final thoughts
Whatever your schedule or study style, using these resources can add some structure and intention to your day and give you a undemanding glimpse into another part of the world. I hope you try some of them out to see if they improve your focus and help you feel connected to a community of students striving to make the most of their time.
Do you have a favourite YouTube video or channel with these types of resources? We’d love to hear about it so we can add it to the list.
A special thanks to HDR student Michelle Vokal for sharing some of her favourite focus videos with me!
Please make any anonymous comments/ feedback, or suggestions for further posts at this link. If you would like to get in touch, or write a post for the Ideas Hub blog, please email karen.miller@curtin.edu.au. Contributions from HDR students are welcome!