What's Pomodoro
The Pomodoro Technique, developed by Francesco Cirillo, is a time management method that uses a timer to break work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by 5-minutes short breaks.
These intervals are known as "pomodoros", named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used as a university student.
Why Pomodoro might not work for developers
While the Pomodoro Technique is popular, it might not be the best fit for everyone, especially developers. Here’s why:
Interruption of Flow State: The rigid timing can disrupt the deep "flow state" crucial for coding. When you're deeply engrossed in a complex problem, stopping because a timer goes off can break your train of thought.
Variable Task Length: Coding tasks vary in complexity and often don't neatly fit into 25-minute intervals. Some tasks might require prolonged uninterrupted focus, while others are shorter and more straightforward.
Context Switching: Frequent breaks mandated by the Pomodoro Technique can lead to excessive context switching. This is counterproductive for tasks that require sustained concentration and a deep understanding of the problem at hand.
The better alternative - Flowmodoro
The Flowtime Technique a.k.a. Flowmodoro was created by Zoë Read-Bivens as a solution to Pomodoro's main problem.
Unlike the Pomodoro Technique, Flowmodoro counts up instead of counting down. It allows you to focus until you naturally feel the need for a break. Then, when you decide to rest, you simply stop the timer, divide the focus time by 5, and set a countdown timer for your break.
This method respects your flow state and adapts to the variable nature of coding tasks.
How to implement Flowmodoro
Implementing Flowmodoro is simple and can start with tools as basic as a stopwatch and timer app. Here's a basic guide:
Pick One Task: Begin by selecting a single task to focus on. This ensures that your attention isn't divided across multiple tasks.
Start the work: Once your task is chosen, start the stopwatch. This marks the beginning of your focused work period. Dive into your task without any distractions.
Stop the work: Keep working until you naturally feel the need for a break. This could be when you feel your concentration waning or you've reached a logical stopping point in your task. Then, stop the stopwatch. This time recorded is your focused work duration.
Take a break: Calculate your break time as one-fifth of your focused work duration. For instance, if you worked for 50 minutes, take a 10-minute break. Set a countdown timer for this break period. This ratio ensures that you get adequate rest without losing the momentum of your work.
You can repeat this cycle again and again.
Automate the process
I have been using Flowmodoro and it really help me improve my productivity while coding. However, I noticed one minor drawback: the repetitive process of setting up the timer manually each time.
To address this, I'm currently working on a solution that seamlessly integrates with this workflow. That's where Flowmodor comes in – a web app I am creating to automate and refine the Flowmodoro process.
As developers, our work requires flexibility and adaptation. Flowmodoro is designed with this in mind. Let's embrace our peak flow states with Flowmodoro!
Top comments (36)
I love this post. I always hear a lot of experiences about Pomodoro from people but was never able to apply it personally for the exact reasons you mentioned here. I don't like frequent context-switching and don't want to lose my train of thought.
How do you deal with break and not thinking about the task you doing currently? 🧑💻 Personally i am struggling with that 🫣
Edit: I write a blog post about things to do during break.
During breaks, it's beneficial to both change your environment and engage in different activities. Stepping away from your workspace can physically signal your brain to shift focus. Engaging in activities that are distinct from your work, like a short walk, stretching, or a casual conversation, helps mentally detach from work tasks. Give it a try and see how it works for you!
Than you for the response 🙏❤️
I used to struggle with that too (and still do but better). Switching to a completely different activity has been helping me. That could be walking, stretching, cooking, filling my water bottle, or even peeing lol. Sometimes I forget to pee:)
Basically, any activity that will get me up from my desk :)
I personally like to spend time with my family (wife and daughter). Working from home is tough sometimes, your family needs attention but you need to let them aside in order to focus. So during my pauses I just go out of the office and spend time with them, prepare food or something like that.
I play chess
I prefer to stay away away from screens during my breaks to avoid straining my eyes and hooking onto a possible distraction...
For every break:
Wash face , fill water, loo -> perform a short and menial sorting, creative, or problem solving task (arranging my bed or closet, sketch a picture conjured in my head, creating a beat or humming a rhythm, 5 minute exercises, beatboxing, shadow boxing, )
The introspective mind ("the back of your head") is best engaged by such activities, and relates trivial attributes and happenings to your goal task.
I like the idea of the pomodoro, usually what I do is to set a longer timer like 40 to 50 minutes for my pomodoros with a rest of 10 minutes, to get up, get some water and a cup of coffee, and strech a litle bit to help me avoid back pain.
But it depends on the day if I'm tired I get a samller pomodoro (like the standard 25 minutes) to rest more frequently that helps me on days that I'm not felling 100%.
I like the idea of Flowmodoro, in fact I think that some times I could extended my focus time on the task but got distracted by the alarm of the pomodoro timer.
I'll try to use Flowmodoro! Thanks for the tip!
Wow… It’s actually surprising to read an article that pulls the words out of my mouth. I can see the benefits of Pomodoro, but at the same time, I’m also struggling to be consistent with it. Mainly because the break time quite literally breaks my concentration. And I often get quite annoyed by it.
Then I try the alternative, I will go to deep focus for as long as I can, then whenever I feel like I’m hitting a block, I can just take a rest. This also becomes a problem as I take too long of a rest time.
Then this article introduces me to Flowmodoro, which gives a fair amount of rest time. Go ahead and read it for more details. But above all, thank you for the useful article.
Great point. Backed up by a sweet software. I appreciate the article.
Interesting stuff. I love how you elaborated on the need to focus on just a single task for this technique.
Switching context can make you highly inefficient. Thank you for writing this article
I will try this technique 😁
Interesting I might try it for this week.
Agree 100%. If anyone is interested, I created a free app that allows you to do just this. Focus on one task, and get the stopwatch working once you are ready. Check it out for free: dolooper.netlify.app/
Interesting approach, thanks.
The core idea of pomodoro for me is that, before starting, I know I'll spend no more than N minutes on the task. And the effect of this is very powerful, especially for tasks that seem hard or the ones I need to do but I really don't want to do. And when the timer ends, I decide whether I want to work more on the task, e.g. if I feel the flow.
Hi,
It's nice to see how people adapt the tool to their contexts :). I have my version of Pomodoro called Limachino which I used 45 minutes of concentration + 15 of rest doing other things at home (housekeeping, walking, reading a book, whatever)... just the only rule for these 15 minutes: without smartphone.
It works to be focused :)
I know the goal is to be focused and deliver tasks, but anyone must search, use, and adapt the best tools to do the work. (Yes... a hammer may not be the best tool to be a screwdriver), but we, as scientists, must experiment until we find the best strategies to work. Some colleagues use the night because their kids are sleeping, and others start their days at 5 am (brave people!), for me, is work 45/15/15 and take a rest of 25 in my bed without music after lunch...
PS... Limachino is a big tomato from Chile. When I speak about my adaptation, I prefer to say it's a Pomodoro but big, so... a Limachino <3
While this works for me too, I sometimes feel it's the same as switching context.
Don't get me wrong, I use the technique a lot and it helps me achieve more in less time, making more time to do more stuff.
There is no magic formula to finish a task. Everyone must experiment to reach the perfect solution for their needs. As I said, some colleagues stay late in the silent night, because they can focus on their tasks without distractions (kids, pets, whatever) and others prefer to start their days earlier in the morning.
If in your case, you don't want context switching or you need time to retake a task, putting hard limits (25 or 45 minutes) is not the answer, but I recommend having a pause because your brain will feel tired and your body needs to move (and it will help to clean your mind if you're stuck in a problem!)
Pomodoro has worked for me because of the mandatory breaks - when I get in the flow I could(and have been) forget to take any break. Although I've used some Pomodoro timers, that were not too intrusive with their notifications, and if I am really into it - I don't stop, but this has been more of a exception of the rule, than a regular thing.
I prefer my brand new self-developed Microdoro Technique (patent pending). 20 seconds of work followed by 5 seconds play, repeated 300 times throughout the day. People think the "micro" in the title refers to the short duration, but that's a common misconception — actually it's because you're supposed to do the whole routine while microdosing bath salts.
I am a developer and disagree with this! It is true that sometimes task-timing does not coincide perfectly with tomato intervals, but it is also true that after too long that the focus is kept, the attention goes down and therefore it is more productive to detach to resume! The trick is to define fairly short tasks, IMHO
I think the objective of pomodoro is for you to forcefully make stops during your work to never become tired and really need a break. I liked the flowmodoro, but they are two very different techniques. Flowmodoro is about having a break based on the amount of time you spent focusing, but it won't stop you from burning out you focus.
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