You Can (and Should) Modify the Pomodoro Technique to Suit Your Work Habits
The Pomodoro Method, named after the tomato-shaped timer its creator used to track his work schedule, is widely considered one of the best methods for increasing productivity. That’s why I’ve often recommended it in the past and why it regularly appears on lists of the best productivity techniques. It’s simple: set a timer for 25 minutes and work on a task for that time, then take a five-minute break before setting the timer and starting work again. After four 25-minute cycles, you’ll get a longer break.
Be that as it may, it doesn’t work for everyone. But don’t lose hope. You can – and you should! – change it according to your needs.
Why the Pomodoro Technique Works and Why Sometimes It Doesn’t
Pomodoro’s idea is good. Generally, two factors really improve productivity: taking periodic breaks and immersing yourself in focused, deep work on one task without doing a bunch of other things . Because this technique involves focused work and breaks, it can really push you to get a lot done in those 25-minute chunks, whether you’re working on a work project, cleaning the house, or answering emails.
However, some people find it easier to get into the “deep work” zone than others, which is why Pomodoro fans sometimes report that 25-minute chunks just aren’t enough. In other cases, 25 minutes may be too long for simple tasks, leading to distraction. Just because something is considered the gold standard doesn’t mean it performs at gold medal level for everyone.
How to Modify the Pomodoro Technique
Don’t give up on this concept altogether if you don’t find it effective for you. Change it instead. I recommend spending a few weeks carefully tracking your time. You can use time tracking software or a regular old spreadsheet, but as you work through your to-do list, take notes when you feel like you’ve entered a deep work phase. You’ll know this is happening when the work is going smoothly, there are no distractions, and time is flowing while you get results. Also keep track of when you start to get distracted, as well as how much you actually got done at the end of each 25-minute Pomodoro set. Finally, be aware of how you feel during and after your break.
After a few weeks, review your data and look for patterns. Have you struggled to get into the zone when cleaning your kitchen every time the task came up? Have you found yourself entering the “deep work” phase only 15 minutes into your working hours and only having 10 minutes left to actually get something done before the timer goes off? Did you feel ready for the break when it was approaching, or did you waste five minutes of free time getting distracted by all the things you still needed to do? Did you feel rejuvenated when it was time to go back to work, or did you find the idea unappealing?
Ideally, you should be in a state of flow during those 25 minutes, be able to enjoy your break without much anxiety, and feel eager to get back to being productive when it’s time to reset the timer. If this is not the case, you can change the technique. If it takes you longer to get into the zone, give yourself more work time. If you can’t feel comfortable taking breaks, make them longer. As you make adjustments, continue to track your time, feelings, and results until you find the right balance between work and breaks.
Again, the core principles of this technique—focused work and consistent breaks—have been proven to be effective in increasing productivity. The 25 minute blocks can be a bit subjective and arbitrary; this part is simply based on what worked for the guy who came up with it, so if he could pick time blocks that worked for him, why can’t you? As long as you’re willing to do deep work and give yourself breaks, it doesn’t really matter how much time you give yourself. Just keep in mind that working too long can make you unproductive , so try not to give yourself too much time.