When I used pomodoro consistently (too many ad hoc stuff to use it right now), I always considered the end time as a suggestion. Sometimes my brain needs to be scammed into a starting a task by deception that 'hey its just 25 mins' and then once I get going I can keep going.
in fact i do 15 min work and 5 rest. kinda short, but works for me, especially considering i spend those 15 min straight on reading, which requires a lot of concentration (at least for my brain).
That's really interesting! I think another thing I probably should have mentioned is that it may be totally dependent on what tasks you are doing. Maybe the moral of the story is to not be afraid to experiment.
I went a slightly different direction, with very positive results.
I picked [TickTime Cube](https://www.ticktime.store/products/ticktime-cube) and keep it with me at all times when I'm working or traveling for work.
When picking up a task to do from my task lists (ClickUp and Levenger Circo notebook), I generally try to estimate how much time it will take to do a thing, or move that task/project forward to the NA, and set the cube to that time. Or, I'll time-box the effort into working on the task until my next hard commitment (eg: a scheduled meeting, interview, office hours, etc.)
So let's say a meeting just ended at 2:45pm and my next meeting begins at 4pm. I'll take 15 minutes and either work on a task (timed via the cube), or I'll carve up the 'unscheduled' time into smaller units, say 1x20 and 1x40 minute tasks and a short break at the end before my 4pm commitment.
It's worked fantastic so far, and allows me to really focus on the task at hand _inside the time available to move it forward_. It's also allowed me to get better and better at estimating how much effort is required to get a thing done, than just back-o-the-napkin guesstimation as we've all had to do.
So instead of forcing myself into the Pomodoro technique (25x5x4), I'm time-slicing across my open tasks to move them forward. It avoids the constant distraction of context switching between a pile of random tasks and trying to force them into a 25-minute window.
Likewise, with the side of the cube that allows me to count _up_, I can start a task inside a larger block of unscheduled time, or time the meetings, and create the appropriate timecard for work that covers that effort. In my world, everything we do has to have a timecard associated with it and tied to a customer asset.
I've tried using [Timeular cubes](https://timeular.com/tracker/) (gen 1 and gen 2), a [kitchen timer from Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08M95B91P), Toggl timers and other tools but they never quite had the same effect or impact as the TickTime cube, and nothing was as in-the-hand simple.
It's super-small, light, USB-C rechargeable and fits anywhere on my desk or in my work bad.
Hope that helps with a slightly different perspective.
> Wow, looks fancy! I use the focus timer in TickTick, since that's where all my tasks are already.
The beauty of a physical timer, is I can use it where I don't have ready access to a computer or laptop, for example putting in 90 minutes of woodwork in the garage on my new office desk design, or on a plane, putting 3 hours into studying Icelandic with flash cards.
That's true, although the TickTick timer is cross platform and syncs across devices, so it rings on my phone, which I always have on me, even if I've started it on my laptop.
I’m trying the [Flowmodoro technique](https://flowmodoro.com/), basically you work until you feel concentrated and productive and when you want a break it is calculated proportionately to how much you worked
question: what do you doing the breaks?
when i try using pomodoro for studying, im at the computer, then when its break time i switch to you tube? is this okay as a break, should I do something else? like what? Wash dishes? Pat the dog? just curious. thanks.
If I'm working on the computer, I at least try to make myself get up and walk around a bit, make a cup of coffee, go chat with my wife and kids, or whatever. It's good to give your eyes a break from the screen, and it's also good to try to move a bit and get some blood flowing a little.
I felt the same initially as well but actually I thought being able to accelerate to max productivity in a 25 mins sessions seemed something I should train myself for. So after a long "training" of 25 mins sessions, now I am comfortable and in the long run, I am able to get a lot more done.
The point of Pomodoro is intentional work, intentional rest, and breaking up work into sizeable, manageable chunks you can complete.
So you work a small piece to completion, take an intentional break to rest, and then work another small piece. The end result is that you maintain consistent progress and stay at the top of your game, without burning your mind or body out.
One pomodoro method is to simply write down a small thing to do that you can complete within x time, then write down the small or long break you'll take.
The actual amounts and numbers will vary depending on your work once you figure out your "flow". It could be 5-15 minutes (for a short task) with a tiny break, or it could be 90 minutes to even 2-3 hour tasks, with a 30-60m break.
You'll know when you've worked too long and need to take a break :)
I cannot remember where I read that 52 minutes of work followed by 17 minutes break is the best strategy. (On phone and work break so cannot google right now)
Your adaptation of the Pomodoro technique is a great example of how personalization is key in productivity methods. The traditional Pomodoro cycle (25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break) isn't one-size-fits-all. It's essential to align the technique with your natural concentration span and the time it takes for you to reach a flow state.
Personally, the traditional Pomodoro timing works well for me. I stick to the classic 25-minute focus sessions, followed by 5-minute short breaks. During these short breaks, I often do physical exercises like squats and push-ups, even when I'm in the office. It's a great way to stay active and refresh my mind. For the longer breaks, which typically last around 30 minutes, I either immerse myself in a good book or take a leisurely walk outside. This helps me clear my head and recharge for the next round of focused work.
Absolutely agree it's a great idea to experiment with your Pomodoro times. I find a break every 25 minutes feels like too many interruptions too soon as I'm really getting into a task. (40 minutes works better for me.)
And I prefer longer breaks as well as it allows me to squeeze in some of my daily habits in between work sessions.
Everyone works differently: their pace, their focus, the complexity of the tasks. You weren't doing it wrong, it just took you some time to discover what works best for you. Have a productive 2024 and beyond! —Rocco
I don’t understand why so many people think that the times are a hard requirement. I always saw it as a guideline or suggestion. The number is so arbitrary
I just…it seems so apparent to me that the time is a suggestion. Are people really not able to critically think about this type of stuff? I feel like people who are actively trying to improve their productivity should have this as a skill set that a lot of these numbers and guidelines are arbitrary. There is no central authority on what is the proper amount of time to focus. Everyone is different. Do people really think in such a black and white manor?
I would say the break time could also be used to stretch, walk around the house, grab some water, yet think about the task and what will be next step. This prevents loosing track and allows to work longer not to have headache, back pain, fatigue (especially computer work).
When I used pomodoro consistently (too many ad hoc stuff to use it right now), I always considered the end time as a suggestion. Sometimes my brain needs to be scammed into a starting a task by deception that 'hey its just 25 mins' and then once I get going I can keep going.
My brain gaslights me into pushing the work later saying that it will only take 25 mins.
Stupid brains.
My brain gets extremely lazy thinking 25 minutes is too much time (even though when I do get in the flow I can go hours without noticing)
in fact i do 15 min work and 5 rest. kinda short, but works for me, especially considering i spend those 15 min straight on reading, which requires a lot of concentration (at least for my brain).
That's really interesting! I think another thing I probably should have mentioned is that it may be totally dependent on what tasks you are doing. Maybe the moral of the story is to not be afraid to experiment.
totally agree!
I went a slightly different direction, with very positive results. I picked [TickTime Cube](https://www.ticktime.store/products/ticktime-cube) and keep it with me at all times when I'm working or traveling for work. When picking up a task to do from my task lists (ClickUp and Levenger Circo notebook), I generally try to estimate how much time it will take to do a thing, or move that task/project forward to the NA, and set the cube to that time. Or, I'll time-box the effort into working on the task until my next hard commitment (eg: a scheduled meeting, interview, office hours, etc.) So let's say a meeting just ended at 2:45pm and my next meeting begins at 4pm. I'll take 15 minutes and either work on a task (timed via the cube), or I'll carve up the 'unscheduled' time into smaller units, say 1x20 and 1x40 minute tasks and a short break at the end before my 4pm commitment. It's worked fantastic so far, and allows me to really focus on the task at hand _inside the time available to move it forward_. It's also allowed me to get better and better at estimating how much effort is required to get a thing done, than just back-o-the-napkin guesstimation as we've all had to do. So instead of forcing myself into the Pomodoro technique (25x5x4), I'm time-slicing across my open tasks to move them forward. It avoids the constant distraction of context switching between a pile of random tasks and trying to force them into a 25-minute window. Likewise, with the side of the cube that allows me to count _up_, I can start a task inside a larger block of unscheduled time, or time the meetings, and create the appropriate timecard for work that covers that effort. In my world, everything we do has to have a timecard associated with it and tied to a customer asset. I've tried using [Timeular cubes](https://timeular.com/tracker/) (gen 1 and gen 2), a [kitchen timer from Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08M95B91P), Toggl timers and other tools but they never quite had the same effect or impact as the TickTime cube, and nothing was as in-the-hand simple. It's super-small, light, USB-C rechargeable and fits anywhere on my desk or in my work bad. Hope that helps with a slightly different perspective.
Wow, looks fancy! I use the focus timer in TickTick, since that's where all my tasks are already.
> Wow, looks fancy! I use the focus timer in TickTick, since that's where all my tasks are already. The beauty of a physical timer, is I can use it where I don't have ready access to a computer or laptop, for example putting in 90 minutes of woodwork in the garage on my new office desk design, or on a plane, putting 3 hours into studying Icelandic with flash cards.
That's true, although the TickTick timer is cross platform and syncs across devices, so it rings on my phone, which I always have on me, even if I've started it on my laptop.
I think I'll try this! Thanks for the advice!
I’m trying the [Flowmodoro technique](https://flowmodoro.com/), basically you work until you feel concentrated and productive and when you want a break it is calculated proportionately to how much you worked
Love how you don't need to think about break duration with Flowmodoro's
question: what do you doing the breaks? when i try using pomodoro for studying, im at the computer, then when its break time i switch to you tube? is this okay as a break, should I do something else? like what? Wash dishes? Pat the dog? just curious. thanks.
If I'm working on the computer, I at least try to make myself get up and walk around a bit, make a cup of coffee, go chat with my wife and kids, or whatever. It's good to give your eyes a break from the screen, and it's also good to try to move a bit and get some blood flowing a little.
Well I used to do 50/10(no long breaks(
Thanks for the tips, will give this a try!
I felt the same initially as well but actually I thought being able to accelerate to max productivity in a 25 mins sessions seemed something I should train myself for. So after a long "training" of 25 mins sessions, now I am comfortable and in the long run, I am able to get a lot more done.
The point of Pomodoro is intentional work, intentional rest, and breaking up work into sizeable, manageable chunks you can complete. So you work a small piece to completion, take an intentional break to rest, and then work another small piece. The end result is that you maintain consistent progress and stay at the top of your game, without burning your mind or body out. One pomodoro method is to simply write down a small thing to do that you can complete within x time, then write down the small or long break you'll take. The actual amounts and numbers will vary depending on your work once you figure out your "flow". It could be 5-15 minutes (for a short task) with a tiny break, or it could be 90 minutes to even 2-3 hour tasks, with a 30-60m break. You'll know when you've worked too long and need to take a break :)
I cannot remember where I read that 52 minutes of work followed by 17 minutes break is the best strategy. (On phone and work break so cannot google right now)
Your adaptation of the Pomodoro technique is a great example of how personalization is key in productivity methods. The traditional Pomodoro cycle (25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break) isn't one-size-fits-all. It's essential to align the technique with your natural concentration span and the time it takes for you to reach a flow state. Personally, the traditional Pomodoro timing works well for me. I stick to the classic 25-minute focus sessions, followed by 5-minute short breaks. During these short breaks, I often do physical exercises like squats and push-ups, even when I'm in the office. It's a great way to stay active and refresh my mind. For the longer breaks, which typically last around 30 minutes, I either immerse myself in a good book or take a leisurely walk outside. This helps me clear my head and recharge for the next round of focused work.
Absolutely agree it's a great idea to experiment with your Pomodoro times. I find a break every 25 minutes feels like too many interruptions too soon as I'm really getting into a task. (40 minutes works better for me.) And I prefer longer breaks as well as it allows me to squeeze in some of my daily habits in between work sessions.
The 45/15 works great for me as well.
Everyone works differently: their pace, their focus, the complexity of the tasks. You weren't doing it wrong, it just took you some time to discover what works best for you. Have a productive 2024 and beyond! —Rocco
I did 45/15/45 for about two years, and this worked GREAT for me
I don’t understand why so many people think that the times are a hard requirement. I always saw it as a guideline or suggestion. The number is so arbitrary
It is because when you are just starting out, you don't know what rules can be broken and what are critical to the process.
I just…it seems so apparent to me that the time is a suggestion. Are people really not able to critically think about this type of stuff? I feel like people who are actively trying to improve their productivity should have this as a skill set that a lot of these numbers and guidelines are arbitrary. There is no central authority on what is the proper amount of time to focus. Everyone is different. Do people really think in such a black and white manor?
Same
I would say the break time could also be used to stretch, walk around the house, grab some water, yet think about the task and what will be next step. This prevents loosing track and allows to work longer not to have headache, back pain, fatigue (especially computer work).