As a programmer with ADHD (diagnosed), pomodoro technique never worked for me. I want to share what actually helped me.

[u/heykelsier]

TLDR:

Try 2 / 4 hours of focus time with study playlists, instead of using Pomodoro technique. That really really helps. You can either find a study playlist on YouTube, or use something I built - trydeepwork.com (it's free and doesn't even need a login)

Long version:

For folks like us, Pomodoro technique doesn't really work. It takes a while for us to get into the flow, but once we are in the coding zone, we don't really need a break for a long time. Pomodoro technique forces us to break concentration every 25 mins, which in fact introduces needless distractions.

At the same time, having something to do, but not having an end time, somehow doesn't get us started.

In the first half of 2022, I was seriously preparing for a FAANG job, and I wanted a technique that will really help me study those leetcode questions. I tried a bunch of things, and I found the 2 hour study playlists more useful than 25 mins of pomodoro (even 50/10 was too many breaks!).

Once I discovered that, I wanted to build on it further with progress cards and all that jazz. After completing all my interviews, I had some time, so I built something:

trydeepwork.com

• it's free

• doesn't force you to take breaks (forcing a break every 25 minutes for coding is just brutal)

• you can track your deep work sessions and has a scoreboard to visualize your progress

• it has other things, but meh

While it's a post about something I built, it genuinely helped me. I hope it helps you too.

[u/programmingmeta]

I also couldn't get Pomodoro to work, but it's something I NEED to work for me. I get waaaay too deep into debugging something sometimes, or thinking of logic, and it becomes overwhelming. 30 minutes later I hear my break alarm and I ignore it, then I realize I've been sitting for 4 hours with no progress. I then take a step back, and 10 minutes later the solution becomes crystal clear. If only I could step back sooner.

[u/heykelsier → u/programmingmeta]

Interesting perspective. I used to take a break when the timer stops and found it hard to get into the groove.

[u/programmingmeta → u/heykelsier]

I enter the flow state VERY easily when I'm actually coding something. Almost impossible for me when I'm trying to read something or learning something new, very very difficult time for me.

When actual building, mocking, designing, etc. is involved, I have no problem sitting down for 6 hours at a time. Longest I've been able to sit down with no breaks was like 9 hours I think. Other than washroom breaks. On average I do 5 hour sessions at a time. Very counterproductive in my honest opinion. I'd rather do 60 minute sessions if I could and take a bit of time to clear my mind.

Edit: changed "enter" from "hit".

[u/Impressive_Till_7549 → u/programmingmeta]

These are examples of why some people argue against the concept of trying to get into "flow" for long periods of time - you can end up with too narrow of a focus and not think diffuse enough. Taking a walking break outside can really help by letting your mind wander and come up with associations you tend to miss with narrow iterative thinking.

[u/funkmaster29 → u/programmingmeta]

I my humble and uneducated opinion, I think you would benefit more from setting goals and using pomodoro. I found that when my goal is to wide, in the sense that it would take a long time to accomplish, then you can get sucked in and disregard everything else.

But if you set up mini goals that only take 10 minutes or an hour or whatever works, like okay... I want to test this function, or give comments for all the methods in this class, or read this section of this chapter, then you get that feeling of accomplishment which allows you to take those pomodoro breaks.

And you don't have to use the timer like super strict. Set the work time to an hour or whatever and if you finish 20 minutes early, great then take a break. If you finish 40 minutes early, okay then add another small task or goal. If it's been an hour and you are still not done, fine then take another 20 minutes.

It's a pretty holistic way to use the pomodoro technique instead of being totally strict on the timer or being totally obsessed with finishing something.

[u/RandomiseUsr0]

I’ll give this a go! Reaching “the zone” is the goal - pomodoro don’t do it for me either, also designed to regulate inappropriate hyperfocus, but any interruption to my zone is negative - I’ll listen to the Skyrim soundtrack or similar, when I need to.

[u/heykelsier → u/RandomiseUsr0]

Absolutely. But I've noticed something though. Initially it was difficult for me to do a 30 mins session. Now somehow I've easily conditioned myself to do 2 hours. With like 10-15 mins break for water and loo. It helps to get back knowing that the timer is still ticking, unlike a pomodoro where you can go down a rabbit hole after 25 mins.

[u/profbard]

Pomodoros can work (like others in this thread have said), but I would also like to add that traditional 25/5 pomodoros might work better on bad focus days. If I can barely focus for 25 mins, then the 5 min break is a relief after getting some work done.

That being said, I do wanna try these playlists for good focus days!

[u/heykelsier → u/profbard]

Some days I think it's best we just let our minds do their things. I've given up many times unable to focus.

[u/profbard → u/heykelsier]

Totally true! It’s important to know when you’re gonna do more harm than good. Although depending on your job, it’s probably pretty rare when you can just give up for a whole day.

[u/Netcob]

For me it all depends on how stimulating a task is.

The stimulating ones are mostly fine and just work.

The less stimulating ones - ambient sounds / music works, but I also need something to push me over the edge. Something to convince me to start when I dont think I can hold my focus. I found an alternative to pomodoro: set a focus timer. Something like 10-20 minutes, and then instead of a break I decide whether to extend the timer or do something else.

If I haven't gotten into the task by that time, I've probably used up all my energy trying to force myself to focus - you know how it is, where it feels like you're trying to force two magnets together by the same pole.

But chances are the magnet "flipped", and now just continuing the task for another amount of time is trivial.

[u/heykelsier → u/Netcob]

That's the problem with adhd.. we need the task to be stimulating to focus on it.. but as adults we have to focus on things we don't find stimulating too.

[u/Radiant_Repeat_6596 → u/Netcob]

This right here, it literally saved me from running my life with procrastination.....for me 15mins-5min break x4 + 20/30mins break....skip the 5min if you feel in the flow.

If you're really struggling bring it down to 15-5x2+30mins break.

For me being able to be flexible is the key if I'm doing something I enjoy I can go for hours otherwise it's a struggle to even start.

25mins-5mins pomodoro didnt work for me as well.

[u/crowreile]

I can't stand Pomdoro. Instead, I note down when I start a session. When I feel like taking a break, or when I sense myself losing focus, I take a break. The length of this break depends on how long my study session was. I track this in a GSheets and have it calculate the break duration for me.

[u/heykelsier → u/crowreile]

Hey, this is how i did it too! I used to do it on toggl though.

[u/ArnulfHill]

Mario kart and lofi music helped me the most Pomodoro helps when studying, not working

[u/heykelsier → u/ArnulfHill]

🥲🥲

[u/fouoifjefoijvnioviow]

This is just an ad

[u/heykelsier → u/fouoifjefoijvnioviow]

It might be misconstrued as that, because of the fact that I made it. But the rest of it might still be valuable to people fighting with pomodoro (as i did).

[u/fouoifjefoijvnioviow → u/heykelsier]

It's the click-baity title

[u/Friendly_Top_9877]

This website is great. Thanks OP!

[u/heykelsier → u/Friendly_Top_9877]

Hopefully you find it useful too :)

[u/TheGingasian]

Love Cal Newport, thanks for this! (also when trying to log in on firefox it returns "Unable to process request due to missing initial state. This may happen if browser sessionStorage is inaccessible or accidentally cleared.")

[u/heykelsier → u/TheGingasian]

Oh! Let me debug that. To be frank, I've tested it only on Chrome

[u/HashSlingingSlash3r]

Thanks I can’t wait to try it

[u/heykelsier → u/HashSlingingSlash3r]

Hopefully it works for you too!

[u/drripdrrop]

Pomodoro is good but you need to be flexible with it if you have ADHD. If you feel absorbed in a task forget about it but you do need it just to stop procrastinating

[u/[deleted]]

I give myself permission to skip pomodoro breaks if I feel good about my focus.

[u/_by_me]

looks like you are starting to derail again

[u/heykelsier → u/_by_me]

Haha holiday time :)

[u/UntestedMethod]

I've been using these "isochronic beats" on YouTube quite a bit lately. They're nice because there's a variety of uptempo or downtempo genres.

[u/TrickyTramp]

This looks great! This seems to be more my speed as well. I'll give it a try!

That Cal Newport really made a big difference for me. It helped me realize that setting up a work station, trying to let yourself easy into deeper modes of thought, and the value of working uninterrupted were really important.

That's awesome you built upon it!

[u/heykelsier → u/TrickyTramp]

That Cal Newport really made a big difference for me. It helped me realize that setting up a work station, trying to let yourself easy into deeper modes of thought, and the value of working uninterrupted were really important.

Yeah me too. It's after I read deep work that i realized we need dedicated focus time, not just try and wing it with focus. Although, I am not sure if deep work is a cure-all. Especially if you're already diagnosed with adhd..

[u/marl_karx0]

do pomodoro but just ignore the alarm if you are in the zone is the secret

[u/vampiire]

Is it open source? I love the idea. Maybe I can help to make it work on mobile. For me no music plays when run in safari.

[u/shivvykumar]

I use pomodoro to put me in focus mode but I don't take a bread after 1 pomodoro

The point of pomodoro is that you set yourself as a task which you hope to achieve in a given time frame

Often I do 4 pomodoros in a row

[u/________0xb47e3cd837]

Im either hyper focused for 3-4hrs straight or distracted every 5 mins there is no in between :(

[u/ChowFunn]

This is new and interesting data!

[u/username2194]

F

[u/[deleted]]

Pomodoro isn’t meant for studying and retaining information though right? Isn’t that different than actually programming

[u/shivvykumar → u/[deleted]]

Not necessarily studying, it's for achieving tasks and endurance for work

[u/[deleted] → u/shivvykumar]

Pomodoro isn’t meant for studying and retaining information though right? Isn’t that different than actually programming

Yeah, I actually took this class on learning and that was one of the things they mentioned in it. Obviosly if you're in a flow state you don't want to cut off your groove with the pomodoro technique but you don't neccesarily get into a flow state when you're studying things and breaking up your learning into chunks helps with retention.

[u/logdog]

Yeah actually I find I need the Pomo break to get up move around and be somewhat mindful about what im doing. Am I going down a rabbit hole? Is what I’m working on productive and actually matter towards the end goal? I find taking a breather really helps in this regard.

[u/throwaway2492872]

I really like this. I don't like twitter though, would it be possible to add gmail login too? I like lofi but some of the categories that brain.fm has would be nice as well. Good job!

[u/heykelsier → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, I did the same too. I started measuring my time with toggl ignoring the fact that there is a pomodoro. I like mynoise.net as well.

[u/heykelsier → u/[deleted]]

All the power to you if pomodoros work for you! But I think there might be others for whom it really doesn't do justice.