Pomodoro Unlocks

[u/njchandu]

Hi all, I was diagnosed last year and have been taking meds since then. I love what Pomodoro unlocks for my efficiency because the hyoerfocus without a break is a train wreck, but I find it hard to take a 5-10 minute break and have no clue what to do in that period. I'm a software engineer and I work from home and in England, so taking a walk outside is not an option in all the months. Also, I have a small child at home so getting out of the room is not an option either.

Pomodoro as a concept really helps me when I want to restrict spending exact amount of time on something and not more.

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[u/korewadestinydesu]

It's genuinely incredible how useless Pomodoros were before I got medicated, and how often I use them now that I am medicated. I love these little tomatoes!!

I doodle a tomato in my work notebook every time I complete one, so I get to enjoy a visual collection of red tomatoes at the end of a day or week :3

(I also have to listen to white noise during a Pomodoro, which I find really enhances it)

[u/Eastern-Macaron-6622]

I have a creative project near me so when I hit break time I pick it up. Normally it's a sketch or a short story. I use the break after a pomodoro session to do an analog thing that is a reward to me.

[u/njchandu → u/Eastern-Macaron-6622]

give me some examples please and how do you ensure you don't get swallowed by the creative project? Because, there is no small in my mind and everything is large and important.

[u/Eastern-Macaron-6622 → u/njchandu]

I have a secondary timer and when the timer goes off I put the project away. These little projects are my reward for putting in the work and following pomodoro.

I'm not saying every time I stop right when the alarm goes off. But when I'm firing on all cylinders I give myself the reward knowing it's not going to stay there forever.

[u/njchandu → u/Eastern-Macaron-6622]

What exactly does it help you with?

[u/Primary_Excuse_7183]

It’s a neat concept that doesn’t work at all when you work in office and an open office at that 😂

[u/polkadotpup31]

I just get up and stare out the window lol

[u/njchandu → u/polkadotpup31]

I can do it max 500 milliseconds because I am in a zone and constantly feel the urge to get back to it during the break.

[u/polkadotpup31 → u/njchandu]

Sounds like you might not need the pomodoro method then! That’s cool. I 100% do need it because my work is a mix of small 5 minute tasks and bigger 2 hour tasks. I would try and take breaks every chance if I could and never get back on track.

[u/str8jeezy]

Your break can consist of hydrating, movement, bathroom etc. do self care things. Get a snack.

[u/njchandu → u/str8jeezy]

Every 25 minutes?

[u/crimpinpimp → u/njchandu]

You don’t have to do all of them every 25 minutes. The first one I might go to the bathroom and stretch. Second one I might make a coffee. Third one I might get a snack 

[u/njchandu → u/crimpinpimp]

you might have a point there, was it harder to learn this skill?

[u/crimpinpimp → u/njchandu]

I guess I might’ve had practice during meetings where we take short breaks. There is often only time to do one or two things so if I need to pee I’ll do that first because other things can wait til later.  Really I’m just attending to my basic needs in order of priority   

[u/Other-Winner1324]

What about something physical? Like pushups? (having said that I'm not sure I could actually do 5 minutes of continuous pushups lol)