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Ask HN: Do you use the Pomodoro technique?

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Re: Ask HN: Do you use the Pomodoro technique?

#4
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.

Re: Ask HN: Do you use the Pomodoro technique?

#6

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.

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.

Re: Ask HN: Do you use the Pomodoro technique?

#7
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.

Re: Ask HN: Do you use the Pomodoro technique?

#8

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.

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