Try ‘Pomodoro 2.0’ to Focus on Deep Work
When it comes to productivity hacks, there are two things I love: the tried-and-true classics, like the Pomodoro method, and shaking them up with a few customizations. I’ve written before about other ways to shape Pomodoro to suit your needs, but today’s idea, Pomodoro 2.0, is one of the simplest and most effective adaptations.
What do I mean by “Pomodoro 2.0?”
First, a reminder of what the Pomodoro technique is. When you use this technique to focus and be productive, you set an alarm for 25 minutes, work for that time, then take a five-minute break. You do this cycle four times, then give yourself a longer break at the end, up to half an hour, before starting again. That’s it. It works because you spend these relatively short periods focusing on the task at hand, knowing that a reprieve is coming. Since they aren’t too long, it doesn’t seem insurmountable.
It also works because these breaks play an important role. Taking periodic breaks can make you more productive, both because they give your brain a rest and because they distract you from working to the point that your output becomes substandard.
I saw the idea of ”Pomodoro 2.0″ mentioned on a forum a while ago and started Googling it. What I found impressed me: This addresses one of the main criticisms I have of the original, which is that 25 minutes isn’t always enough time to get into a state of deep work, or for uninterrupted work, purely focused and effortless enough that time seems to pass by.
At Beyond Productivity, Dr. Christian Poensgen recommends starting the Pomodoro session with a 30-minute work block, then adding more time after the break, adding between 15 and 60 minutes. I recommend doing it gradually, adding 15 each time, so you work for 30, then 45, then 60 and finally 75 minutes before your big break. Adding too much too soon — or working in too large chunks throughout — defeats one of the main goals of the technique, which is to not get overwhelmed, so taking it slower and easier while adding time is the best bet.
If you’re not sure how much time to add, familiarize yourself with the concept of flowtime. Also known as “flowmodoro,” the idea here is that you should track how long you can work on a given task before feeling exhausted, track the length of your breaks to feel invigorated, and start creating personalized, Pomodoro-esque work and rest blocks for each type of task you perform in a given day. It takes a bit of data collection and planning, but it can help you master general technique while still prioritizing in-depth work. And breaks.
What do you think of it so far?
Why use Pomodoro 2.0?
The Pomodoro Technique shines (and has been so popular for so long) because it helps you throw yourself into your work, motivated by short sprints of work and the promise of rewards. It’s absolutely true that you need to take breaks to maintain your productivity, so this part should never be changed or ignored, but sometimes 25 minute work sessions just aren’t enough and five minutes to reset isn’t either. Getting into a state of deep work takes time. Stopping repeatedly before reaching this point is counterproductive.
Giving yourself more time to work on more difficult and complex tasks is essential in some cases, as is taking breaks. Adding time to work blocks in increments helps you settle in and get more done without overloading yourself. You should consider this modification if you have a major project that requires a lot of resources or energy, letting you move on to the difficult parts as you add minutes to your timer.
If you try this and don’t get the results you want, you can also do this another way. Remember the idea of “eating the frog” or tackling the most important item on your to-do list first thing in the morning? Consider eating the frog in Pomodoro 2.0, starting with your 75-minute block and working your way up to 60, 45, and 30. Remember, none of these rules are hard and fast; you can make changes that suit your personal needs and preferences. If you’re someone who doesn’t get overwhelmed and has the ability to engage in long-term work, this structure might be right for you, as the promise of increasingly shorter work sessions can be a motivator in itself.
