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pomodoro technique

Since I work from a home office and in an online (and super distracting) environment, I’m always interested in new ways to stay more productive. A few years ago I came across the Pomodoro Technique – a system for staying more focused.

It’s simple. You just set your timer for 25 minutes and focus on just one task. Then you take a five minute break, and then get back on the horse for another 25 minutes. After three to four cycles, you take a longer break.

The science behind Pomodoro is sound. Researchers at NYU have found evidence that resting your brain regularly can help you do better mental work. Participants in their studies performed better on pop quizzes after a short break than they did when they had a quiz right after a mental activity. Brain scans during the rest period showed that the participants’ brains were working even during the break periods, but in different ways than when they were engaged actively with a task.

I didn’t even know about the science when I started my Pomodoro technique experiment, but I did notice that taking a regular break from social media, email and even music helped improve my focus.

So why am I a Pomodoro failure? The magic number – 25 minutes – just doesn’t cut it for me. Since my primary work is writing, I’d just be hitting my stride with an article when the timer would go off. I’d take my five minute break, and then it would take me another ten minutes to get back into the flow of a project.

For me – the Pomodoro technique made me even less productive. But it wasn’t because the science of breaks wasn’t working for my brain. It’s just that the focus periods were too short. While a 25/15 minute split might work for research, it didn’t work for writing and it was far too long for checking in on social media.

The solution? I created my own version of Pomodoro. For me, a 45 minute work time, 15 minute break is ideal for writing. It gives me plenty of time to stay focused on one project and give my brain some adequate rest time. I use Pomodoro.me to create custom cycles for focus and break times.

What about you? Do you Pomodoro?