[HN Gopher] Does anyone actually use the pomodoro technique?
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Does anyone actually use the pomodoro technique?
I did some research and wrote about how the default 25-minute time
intervals is better for breaking a procrastination habit, but
longer time intervals like 50 minutes are actually needed to do
deep work. Link: https://tinyurl.com/r5drje9p I know only like one
person who actually does the technique. So if you do pomodoro, how
has it helped and in what ways? How do you make it stick?
Author : wgoto
Score : 26 points
Date : 2021-03-29 17:33 UTC (5 hours ago)
| malux85 wrote:
| No, because my tasks are too varied to be timeboxed into
| arbitrarily defined slots,
|
| The most valuable thing for me is developing my meta-cognition
| and self awareness, so I know when my productivity is starting to
| dip and I take a break, do exercise or take a nap.
|
| It took me a while to get this right because my high ambition and
| drive would be impatient with my need to rest and push me to
| continue, but like so many things in life, realising the path to
| success is not a straight line to be brute-forced, but complex
| path that is subject to update and reorientation, once I accepted
| this, productivity skyrocketed.
| wiml wrote:
| I don't think pomodoro is appropriate for _all_ work. Quite a lot
| of work really wants a 3-4 hour long session (after which I need
| to eat and move around a little, or I 'd stretch it longer). But
| for some things a 15-20 minute pomodoro session is perfect.
|
| (For physical tasks I use podcasts, like pryelluw's Netflix
| technique. Bonus points if there's a podcast whose release
| schedule matches how often I have to do a particular task.)
| pedalpete wrote:
| I've used it on and off for a while, but the habit just hasn't
| stuck for me. However, a friend is the founder of
| https://timechi.com - a digital clock that manages your pomodoro
| (or whatever style of time boxing you want to do), and connects
| to your computer/browser to block things from interupting you.
| The physical clock has the added benefit of being displayed to
| co-workers in an open office space that you're currently busy.
| kehrin wrote:
| I use the Pomodoro at the end of a semester to study for longer
| periods without burning out. That way of studying works better
| than anything else for me.
|
| Breaks are short enough that your mind doesn't wander too far and
| often enough, to not feel like a break is still 4 hours away.
|
| The benefit of this is that it turns the whole process into a
| habit. It's not about today or tomorrow, but rather about the 2-3
| weeks that you spent studying. This helps me with feeling
| positive about the progress I made (even if it's small).
|
| Some things that help me:
|
| - Reminding myself that I took those 8 hours for myself (to get
| things done)
|
| - Having a deadline (exams) allows me to schedule topics (set
| expectations low)
|
| - I don't have any apps to doomscroll (twitter, facebook,
| instagram), so a 5 minute break is plenty to respond to a friend
|
| - Most of my breaks are not spent on my phone (getting water,
| fresh air, walking around house, stretching, talking to people)
| huhnmonster wrote:
| I also use a it this way, but instead I do 90/30 (work/break)
| as 90 minutes gives me enough time to finish most exercises and
| tests without having to hurry.
|
| I do around 4 to 5 sessions per day which hits the sweet spot
| for me as I can endure this for multiple months without having
| to take days off. This comes at the expense of having to start
| a few weeks earlier to have enough time to prepare for tests
| compared to cramming 12 hour days the week before
| pryelluw wrote:
| I do Netflix-pomodoro. Put on a show and work for one episode,
| break for the next. Repeat. I'm ridiculously productive this way.
|
| Note that I aim for shows with episodes that last less than 30
| minutes. The office was a great show to use but sadly was
| removed. Now using community.
| Garvey wrote:
| Brooklyn Nine-Nine might fit your less than 30 minutes criteria
| blablablerg wrote:
| I do. Helps me a lot.
| xyzal wrote:
| I use a pomodoro timer as a break reminder only, and it helps me
| to stay productive for the whole day. It is too easy for me to
| work non-stop since the morning, but that way I feel too
| exhausted in the early afternoon to do anything of significance.
| rawland wrote:
| The 25/5-ratio is ridiculous.
|
| At least for me. Using 50/10 meanwhile because when I used 25/5 I
| just closed the Pomodoro app to keep going instead of being
| reminded to make a pause again and again. It felt like snoozing
| away the wake up alarm all the time. But I didn't want to wake
| up!
|
| 50/10 mins with a warning at 40mins is way better. The 10 minutes
| usually are used to get something to drink/snack/coffee giving
| the ADD-shakes in my legs something else to do (walking).
|
| It happens from time to time, when I'm really into something,
| that I just switch it off to stay zoned out for hours.
|
| PS: Thanks for the link.
| westcort wrote:
| I have used it. This page of my website has the implementation I
| use: https://www.locserendipity.com/Pomodoro.html
|
| In my version, I break down the task into discrete steps and give
| myself a check mark for every sprint completed toward each step.
|
| The simple HTML format makes this more successful for me than the
| content-rich alternatives available elsewhere online. It also
| works if you save the HTML file to your desktop--so you can use
| it offline.
| Communitivity wrote:
| I have a friend with ADD worse than mine. The technique is a
| godsend to them and they credit it with getting many projects
| done. I think this is in part due to needing to think through the
| problem and break it into smaller pomodoro sized chunks. I
| suspect the exercise of breaking the problem into smaller chunks
| also helps them understand the problem better.
|
| I only use the technique some of the time. I find the same
| results as above when I do. When I use the technique I don't use
| a sound alarm as I find it breaks my flow. Instead I tend try to
| break work into 20m bites, giving myself a 5-10 minute grace
| period/break. I try to get up and stretch at the 25m mark, then
| get back to work. It helps my focus on long slogs, and my health
| has also improved since I am no longer doing the 4-6h without
| moving from my chair anymore.
| airhead969 wrote:
| My ADHD-PI and anxiety are such rn that I can't code or do
| office-type work. I can only stare at a computer for 5 minutes
| max, and can't concentrate. Doctors are trying to narrow down a
| metabolic or endocrine issue, because the treatment-resistant
| depression (15 meds tried) and anxiety (with hypertension and
| tachycardia, on a beta blocker) are serious.
| wgoto wrote:
| Just curious, what kind of work are you usually doing when you
| use the technique? What makes you decide to use it versus not?
| Communitivity wrote:
| Usually coding, or writing documents. The determination is
| based on a number of factors, including my mental state
| (focus, # of spoons, etc.) that day.
| telesilla wrote:
| For my thesis yes, for programming no. Long periods of hard
| writing is perfect for pomodoro, if I recall I did something like
| 32 on, 8 off. I shared with an online group, it was really
| special.
|
| For some reason I get enough of a kick out of programming that I
| never need to take a break. I can play music and code for hours
| but tell me to write longform and I need a really good cajoling.
| GoldenMonkey wrote:
| I use the 25/5 pomodoro whenever I have tight programming
| deadlines.
|
| I can get so much focus/productive work done that way.
|
| I use a software timer and turn off all distractions. It is
| invaluable.
| intricatedetail wrote:
| Nice! For me it is more like 5/20 but still I get things done.
| starrlordxt wrote:
| I use the Pomodoro timer technique whenever I need to do focused
| work and absolutely have to get it done. I use a default
| 25-minute interval timer (ios app called BeFocused). But most of
| my work needs more time than 25 mins at a time, usually 1 hour to
| 2 hours. So what I do is every time the alarm goes off hit skip
| on the 5 break minute timer and continue working. Then when I
| feel like I've done adequate work on the task I'll take the
| break. Then I'll comeback and continue. I've found that its
| actually a neat trick to keep me working. Also if I can't stand
| working on something, this forces me to stick to it for at least
| 25-minutes.
| billfruit wrote:
| In practice it is bit of hack and not suitable to use as routine.
| For example many people need to spent a lot of time in meetings,
| and then pomodoro can't be used. Same with work that involves
| multiple people, like for example a complex system test involving
| multiple tests with people monitoring and performing actions in
| various stations.
| patatino wrote:
| I try to ride any good session I can for 3-4 hours. I do not need
| a break after 25minutes, and the most challenging part is getting
| into it for me, not staying in it.
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