If you’re a developer, then there’s one thing that all of you know by now: coding can be challenging work.
It’s hard to get things done without distraction.
And you know what happens when you let your attention wander? You waste hours on things that don’t move you forward.
That’s not healthy. Not productive. And definitely not good business.
Fortunately, there’s a tool for that – the Pomodoro Technique.
The Pomodoro Technique has been around for decades. It turns out it’s a pretty great technique for getting stuff done.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
Francesco Cirillo developed the Pomodoro technique in the 1980s. The basic idea behind this technique is to break your work into 25-minute intervals. During this time, you are supposed to focus on your task and only take a short break after every 25 minutes.
Each interval is called Pomodoro, that’s an Italian word for tomato. The technique got the name after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer.
This technique can be beneficial for programmers, who often have to juggle many tasks at once and can quickly become overwhelmed if they try to complete them all at once.
The Pomodoro technique can help by allowing programmers to focus on one task for a set period and then break for a short period to allow their minds to rest before returning to the task at hand. The break can help them stay focused and avoid becoming overwhelmed, becoming more productive overall.
However, most people think of the Pomodoro method as a time management tool.
That’s not true.
Pomodoro can be a way to help you plan your day. For example, let’s say that you want to get many things done today. However, you have to do five things at work, you need to do something for your family, you need to get groceries, and you need to pay bills. How can you do all these things?
You can’t.
So, instead of doing all these things at once, break them down into smaller tasks.
For instance, you could make a list of the five things you need to do for today and write it down on a piece of paper. Then, set your timer for 25 minutes. Don’t go back and forth between the items on the list. Just concentrate on one item at a time. When your timer goes off, take a 5-minute break. Now, you can start with the next task on your list.
How Pomodoro technique works
Do you want to get things done faster?
Then follow this simple, foolproof method:
- Set a timer for 25 minutes.
- Then work on a single task for 25 minutes.
- After that, take a five-minute break.
- Repeat this process four times.
- After completing four pomodoros, take a 15-20 minutes long break.
It doesn’t matter if you’re working at a computer, sitting in a meeting, or even pair programming. The key is to set the timer and start.
You can use the Pomodoro method for various tasks, not just programming. For example, you can use it to read and study, work on a project, or even write a paper. The Pomodoro technique is trendy among programmers because it is easy to use and helps them stay focused.
The five-minute break is a great way to clear your mind, and the 20-minute break is an excellent time to get some fresh air and move around.
Can Pomodoro work for programmers?
When you’re trying to get something done, the Pomodoro Technique can help keep you focused and on task. Pomodoro can work particularly well for completing development tasks, especially when you need to focus on a single bigger task for long periods.
Instead of trying to tackle an entire project or task at once, the Pomodoro method breaks tasks down into smaller units and then sets you a timer for 25 minutes. A single task is the only thing you can do while the timer is ticking away.
Benefits of using Pomodoro technique
Here are some of the benefits of using the Pomodoro technique.
- It improves your concentration. If you are working for a long time without any break, your concentration will start to weaken. You may feel stressed and exhausted. This will not let you focus on the task at hand. So, it is better to use the Pomodoro technique as it will help you stay focused and concentrated.
- It helps you to focus on one task at a time. When working on a task, the Pomodoro technique encourages you to focus on that task and nothing else. This can help you stay focused and avoid getting distracted.
- It helps you get started. There are times when you don’t have enough willpower to start working on something. You might feel tired and overwhelmed. This is where the Pomodoro technique can help. You force yourself to get started and get your work done by setting a timer.
- It is simple. The Pomodoro technique is a simple, easy-to-follow technique. It doesn’t require any special equipment or tools. You need to set a timer for 25 minutes and then start working.
- It keeps you fresh longer. Context switching is a disease of modern life. It’s something that everyone experiences almost every single day. You start working on one task, but then you are distracted by something else. This leads to a decrease in productivity. The Pomodoro technique helps you avoid this by keeping you focused on one task for a set time.
So, if you want to get things done, try the Pomodoro technique and see the difference.
Tools to use
These days, there is an app for everything. It’s the same with the Pomodoro technique. You can find an app for it for every single device or platform.
The two apps I use are the Marinara Pomodoro Assistant Chrome extension and the Focus@Will web application.
Marinara Pomodoro assistant is a simple Pomodoro timer app that helps you use the Pomodoro technique on your Chrome browser. The app is free. It has a countdown timer you can see directly in the extension toolbar, and it’s very configurable.
The other application, Focus@Will, is a paid app. It is designed to improve concentration with music. The way it works is that the music stimulates you to stay focused for more extended periods. There is a study that backs these claims.
Conclusion
The Pomodoro technique is an effective way to increase the productivity of developers. It is simple but effective. It helps get the best out of your productivity and improves your workflow.
I’m a big fan of the Pomodoro technique. And it’s helped me achieve more than I ever thought possible.
The best of all?
You can start using it right away. And remember to take breaks. That will give you a chance to get a little fresh air, stretch your legs, and relax.