Ask HN: Do you use the Pomodoro technique?

I've been using this technique for 10yrs now, I find that it really helps (even in 25mins or 50mins sessions).

I know only one person who actually does the technique daily.

So, if you do Pomodoro, how do you use it? How do you make it stick?

I don't use it. Somehow I'm constantly checking how much time remains. Can't get into the flow. And if I do get into any kind of flow state, the last thing I want is to get interrupted by a timer.

I think it might work great for physical work. Remembering to stretch or take a break. But, for me, not for any type of brainy work.

wruza 2y

Yep, sounds like a nightmare to me. I can’t focus if there’s an appointment in less than five hours. The perspective of having a 25 min timer makes everything futile.

muzani 2y

It was great for mental labor too, like data entry. But these days, you can toss all the tedious mental stuff to a LLM.

OnionBlender 2y

I didn't like it because I hated getting interrupted after 25 minutes. It kept breaking my focus.

What I found worked well for me instead was "count up" pomodoro.

  - Start a stop watch or simple wrist watch and leave it on your desk.
  - If you glance at it and it is less than 25 minutes, keep going.
  - Else if it is over 25 minutes, take a break if you feel like it. Write down how much time you worked. At the end of day, add up your time.

Although it is probably good to set a timer when taking a break because you do want to be interrupted in that case.

runjake 2y

I use Pomodoro occasionally (~few times a year)when I really need to focus on some unpleasant task.

The rest of the time I rely on screaming at myself inside my head.

surprisetalk 2y

I used pomodoro for years via a CLI tool I built:

[1] https://taylor.town/nowify

deathgripsss 2y

Yes but not for anything requiring deep thought as the intervals don't lend itself to that style of work for me.

But any admin tasks, emails, etc work great.

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