8 Weird Reasons I Hate The Pomodoro Technique

And what I use instead

Image created by author using DALL-E

I love tomatoes, but I am anti-pomodoro.

You can't read a productivity article without hearing of the pomodoro technique.

It’s everywhere.

A few years ago, I decided to give it a go and see what all the fuss was about.

I planned for 25 minutes of superhuman focus.

What I got was 25 minutes of superhuman panic, a dash of anxiety, and half a task barely started.

It was a disaster.

What is it?

Francesco Cirillo developed the pomodoro technique in the late 1980s. It aims to improve focus, productivity, and work-life balance. It does this by breaking work into manageable intervals with short breaks in between. Here’s how it works:

1. Set a task: Choose a task you want to work on. This can be anything from studying, working on a project, or completing routine tasks.

2. Set a timer: Set a timer for 25 minutes. Cirillo used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer (hence the name "Pomodoro," which means "tomato" in Italian). But, any timer works.

3. Work on the task: Focus completely on the task for those 25 minutes. Avoid any interruptions or multitasking. This focused work period is one "Pomodoro."

4. Take a short break: Once the 25 minutes are up, take a short 5-minute break to relax, stretch, or grab a quick snack.

5. Repeat the Cycle: After four Pomodoros, take a longer break of 15-30 minutes. This longer break allows for deeper rest, helping to prevent burnout.

Whilst I am a big advocate of timeboxing, I do not agree with the 25-minute time limit at all.

My experience with this method has led me to believe it may not be the best fit for everyone.

Here’s why:

It interrupts deep work.

For tasks needing deep focus, like creative work or coding, stopping every 25 minutes disrupts the flow. I find it hard to return to the same depth of focus after a break.

It’s too rigid a structure.

I find it hard to stick to a schedule. I'm frustrated when I'm "forced" to take breaks or return to work.

It’s not ideal for complex or long tasks.

Some tasks take more than 25 minutes to set up or get into.

I find that breaking them into short intervals like this makes the task take longer and feel more fragmented.

It’s another interruption.

Is it not enough that we must manage our devices, pop-up notifications, and millions of browser tabs? Now, we must stop working when the timer hits 25 minutes.

It’s ridiculous. What happens when someone interrupts you in your 25-minute slot? This includes pings, calls, messages, or a physical interruption. Significant frustration.

David Rock, in his book Your Brain at Work, discusses distractions. He notes that they cost the average office worker over two hours a day. It can take up to 25 minutes to recover from each distraction. That’s another whole Pomodoro!

It increases anxiety.

I find ticking timers more stressful than motivating.

I am known to use them in virtual and face-to-face events to instil a sense of urgency in presenters. They are waffling too much and need to keep to time.

This tactic is not one I would use when I’m trying to think clearly.

Breaks are counterproductive.

On my hackathon events, I am known for telling my clients that there are no formal breaks.

Some gasp at this, but the point is that breaks distract from the work.

If you need a coffee or a toilet break, then go.

Treating adults like children in meetings is one of my bugbears. We can all manage our own needs, including staying in the groove of work when we need to.

It doesn’t work well for teams.

Collaboration often requires flexibility.

Pausing every 25 minutes because the timer said so disrupts team dynamics. It makes collaboration feel less fluid.

It doesn’t work on variable-length tasks.

I find it hard to stick to strict timing when switching between quick, varied tasks like answering emails or managing my expenses. I would much rather give the task the time it needs (within reason!).

So, if I don’t use Pomodoro, what do I use?

Each day I will do three things:

1. Segment the workday into three chunks: before lunch, after lunch, and mid/late afternoon, and use my 1:2:3 method.

2. Segment the work by complexity. Do my complex tasks before lunch or in the mid/late afternoon. Do the easier tasks after lunch.

3. Timebox the work – but not for 25 minutes; I would opt for 45-55 minutes for one segment of work. It gives me time to outline my thoughts on a task, write a first draft, and drink a pint of water.

To sum up,

If I can thrive without the Pomodoro technique for two decades, imagine what you could achieve by adapting your approach to work.

It was helpful in the 1980s, but now, with social media and notifications, it's too distracting. I can't see how anyone finds this technique useful today.

Please feel free to prove me wrong.

Or join me in my revolution of the “Pomodoros are for eating” camp and instead try:

• Segmenting your day

• Segmenting your work

• Timeboxing for longer periods.

To a delicious week ahead.

-Selda

P.S. If you enjoyed this article, please press the 🤍 button to let me know!

P.P.S. If you’d like to learn more about how to build a life you love, when you’re ready, here are a few ways I can help you:

Personal guidance and coaching to find more hours each day:

🤝Work with me 1-1

Double your productivity and do more of what matters to you:

🚀Supercharge Your Productivity: Everyone watches, mouths open, as you whoosh past them. In a state of complete flow, nothing fazes you, and everything feels easy for once.

⚖️7 Proven Strategies for a Better Work-Life Balance: Your 'me time' is so close you can reach out and grasp it.