Have you ever found yourself staring at your screen, struggling to stay productive despite the mountain of tasks that come with software development? Been there, done that. Long hours of coding, debugging marathons and never-ending backlogs can all lead to mental fatigue.
Things took a turn for the worse during the COVID pandemic when we were forced to work from home due to quarantine restrictions. Like many of you, I had a hard time adjusting to working from home, and it became tough to set boundaries between work and personal life. Staying productive was incredibly challenging with all the distractions and the constant urge to work longer hours.
That’s when I stumbled upon the Pomodoro Technique.
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed in the 1990s by Francesco Cirillo. The term was derived from the kitchen timer he had that was shaped like a tomato or “pomodoro” in Italian. The basic idea is simple: work in focused bursts (traditionally 25 minutes), then take a short break (usually 5 minutes). After four cycles, you take a longer break.
I was a bit skeptical when I first heard about the Pomodoro Technique. Could something as simple as a 25-minute timer really help me manage my time better? But I was willing to give it a shot. Initially, I followed the traditional 25/5 cycle, but I quickly realized it didn’t quite fit my workflow. Whenever the 25-minute mark ended, I found it hard to get back in the zone, especially when I needed to analyze and dive deep into complex problems. It became counterproductive.
As a developer, I often need longer periods of uninterrupted time to get into the zone. I had doubts about whether to continue using this method. I had also read that numerous studies show there’s a recovery lag when resuming an interrupted task. According to Gloria Mark, the study lead for “The Cost of Interrupted Work”, it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to the interrupted task. So with the 25/5 cycle, it almost consumes the whole cycle to recover from it.
I was ready to ditch this technique, but then realized that I could actually customize this according to my workflow. I decided to experiment with a 50/10 cycle—50 minutes of focused work followed by a 10-minute break. This adjustment made a huge difference. I discovered that I could maintain my focus better and get into a productive flow without feeling rushed. The longer breaks were perfect for stretching, grabbing a drink or a quick snack, or just stepping away from the screen to rest my eyes and clear my mind.
The Pomodoro Technique has made a huge impact in transforming my workflow as a Full Stack Developer. By adapting the work intervals to suit my needs, I’ve found a balance that boosts focus, improves time management, and reduces stress by working on micro tasks. If you are a struggling developer who has a hard time focusing, give the Pomodoro Technique a try. You might find yourself completing tasks more efficiently and with less stress. You can start off with the traditional 25/5 cycle and see if it works for you. If not, try increasing it to 50/10. Others find success with the 52/17 cycle or the 90/20 work cycle.
Ultimately, finding the right balance is key. Experiment with different intervals until you discover what works best for you. The Pomodoro Technique is versatile and adaptable, making it a powerful tool for enhancing productivity and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Give it a chance, and you might be surprised at how much more you can accomplish.
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