Why pomodoro doesn't work? Try this alternative 🍅
Tags: productivity, pomodoro, career, flowmodoro
Published: 2024-01-14 12:00:57

## What's Pomodoro

The Pomodoro Technique, developed by Francesco Cirillo, is a time management method that uses a timer to break work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by 5-minutes short breaks.

These intervals are known as "pomodoros", named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used as a university student.

## Why Pomodoro might not work for developers

While the Pomodoro Technique is popular, it might not be the best fit for everyone, especially developers. Here’s why:

1. **Interruption of Flow State**: The rigid timing can disrupt the deep "flow state" crucial for coding. When you're deeply engrossed in a complex problem, stopping because a timer goes off can break your train of thought.

2. **Variable Task Length**: Coding tasks vary in complexity and often don't neatly fit into 25-minute intervals. Some tasks might require prolonged uninterrupted focus, while others are shorter and more straightforward.

3. **Context Switching**: Frequent breaks mandated by the Pomodoro Technique can lead to excessive context switching. This is counterproductive for tasks that require sustained concentration and a deep understanding of the problem at hand.

## The better alternative - Flowmodoro

The Flowtime Technique a.k.a. Flowmodoro was created by [Zoë Read-Bivens](https://medium.com/@UrgentPigeon/the-flowtime-technique-7685101bd191) as a solution to Pomodoro's main problem.

Unlike the Pomodoro Technique, Flowmodoro counts up instead of counting down. It allows you to focus until you naturally feel the need for a break. Then, when you decide to rest, you simply stop the timer, divide the focus time by 5, and set a countdown timer for your break.

This method respects your flow state and adapts to the variable nature of coding tasks.

## How to implement Flowmodoro

Implementing Flowmodoro is simple and can start with tools as basic as a stopwatch and timer app. Here's a basic guide:

1. **Pick One Task**: Begin by selecting a single task to focus on. This ensures that your attention isn't divided across multiple tasks.

2. **Start the work**: Once your task is chosen, start the stopwatch. This marks the beginning of your focused work period. Dive into your task without any distractions.

3. **Stop the work**: Keep working until you naturally feel the need for a break. This could be when you feel your concentration waning or you've reached a logical stopping point in your task. Then, stop the stopwatch. This time recorded is your focused work duration.

4. **Take a break**: Calculate your break time as one-fifth of your focused work duration. For instance, if you worked for 50 minutes, take a 10-minute break. Set a countdown timer for this break period. This ratio ensures that you get adequate rest without losing the momentum of your work.

You can repeat this cycle again and again. 

## Automate the process

I have been using Flowmodoro and it really help me improve my productivity while coding. However, I noticed one minor drawback: the repetitive process of setting up the timer manually each time.

To address this, I'm currently working on a solution that seamlessly integrates with this workflow. That's where [Flowmodor](https://flowmodor.com) comes in – a web app I am creating to automate and refine the Flowmodoro process.

{% cta https://app.flowmodor.com/signin %} Get Started {% endcta %}

As developers, our work requires flexibility and adaptation. Flowmodoro is designed with this in mind. Let's embrace our peak flow states with Flowmodoro!

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