![\"What](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/What-Pomodoro-looks-like.png\")
<\/center>\n\n\n\nThe technique involves completely focusing on your work for 25 minutes, then taking a five-minute break; repeating this 4 times and going on a longer, 20-minute break after that. The cycle continues until you finish all your work for the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pomodoro can be great for tasks you don\u2019t want to do (e.g. filing your taxes) or tasks that don\u2019t require deep thinking (e.g. cleaning). The problem arises when you have to do something that requires creativity, innovation, and problem-solving. The time frame of 25 minutes is often too short and interrupts your workflow and train of thought. In addition, 25-minute intervals can also be too long for certain tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Flowtime technique fixes these problems, as you can choose your own time frames and ensure they align with your workflow. Let\u2019s look at a simple example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An example of the Flowtime technique in action<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When you\u2019re studying, 25 minutes often isn\u2019t enough time to go through a lesson, understand it, and memorize it. That kind of activity requires more time, such as 60 or 90-minute work intervals. Similarly, 5 minutes isn\u2019t enough for your brain to rest after an hour of intense studying; it\u2019s better to take a 20-minute break instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A step-by-step guide to the Flowtime technique<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you want to try out the Flowtime technique, follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Pick a task<\/b>. Multitasking is a no go; only do one task at a time and give it your maximum focus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Write down the time when you got started<\/b>. You can do it manually or use time tracking software<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Work until you start to lose focus and feel tired<\/b>. Check out the heading below for additional signs you may need to rest for a couple of minutes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Take a break.<\/b> The break can last for however long you need to feel rested and refreshed. Write down the exact time you went on the break, as well as the break length. There are some suggested rest time lengths (but you\u2019re under no obligation to follow them):\n
- \n
- For under 25 minutes of work, go on a five-minute break.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- After 25-50 minutes of work, get an eight-minute pause.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- When you complete 50-90 minutes of work, you can have a 10-minute rest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- More than 90 minutes of work can be followed by 15-20 minutes of break time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Repeat<\/b>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
If someone interrupts you, write down what the interruption is, the time you got interrupted, and the time when you start working again. After a while, you\u2019ll be more aware of what distracts you, and you\u2019ll be able to take the necessary steps to avoid it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As time goes by, you\u2019ll figure out how many minutes of work are ideal for you and how much time you need to recharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you know you need to take a break?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A crucial question when implementing the Flowtime technique is tied to breaks \u2014 how will you know it\u2019s time to take a break? Well, the good news is that your brain will send you clear signals. Some of them are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- You start feeling tired,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You feel like you\u2019ve been sitting for too long,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You\u2019ve finished a (longer) task,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You have a hard time focusing, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You can\u2019t seem to find the right solution to something you\u2019re working on (and it gets you increasingly frustrated).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This technique doesn\u2019t have a lot of rules, the most important thing is to listen to your inner voice. Its simplicity is one of its biggest advantages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pros and cons of the Flowtime technique<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Nothing in this world is perfect, and time management techniques<\/a> are no exceptions to this rule. Here are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of the Flowtime technique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advantages of the Flowtime technique<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s why you should give the Flowtime technique a shot:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- It\u2019s personalized<\/b>. Customized time intervals help you to be in tune with your workflow. Using a personalized time management technique is like wearing a tailored suit; a mass-produced suit from a store can get the job done, but it can\u2019t compare to the tailored one. Don\u2019t feel at ease working in 25-minute intervals and taking 5-minute breaks? Mix and match until you find your ideal time intervals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Enhances focus<\/b>. This technique makes it easier to engage in deep work<\/a>. Taking a break when you need to is one of the most important factors: you can fully immerse yourself in work only when your brain is refreshed and rested.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Helps with estimating time<\/b>. Considering that mixing and matching time intervals will require you to track the time you spend on tasks, you\u2019ll get a lot of benefits<\/a> that come with it: a better idea of how you spend your time, more accurate time estimates, improved productivity, and reduced procrastination are just some of them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Disadvantages of the Flowtime technique<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you decided to try out the Flowtime technique, be mindful of these things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Figuring out which time frames work best takes time<\/b>. This technique doesn\u2019t reach its full potential right away; it takes some trial and error to figure out what works best for you. Patience is necessary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You need to plan well<\/b>. This technique requires you to know your tasks in advance, estimate the time they take, and prioritize<\/a> them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Doesn\u2019t work for unpredictable schedules<\/b>. If your job requires a lot of impromptu meetings and unplanned, yet urgent tasks, this technique may not be for you. It\u2019s difficult to maintain interrupted work time and planned breaks in a dynamic environment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How to make the most out of the Flowtime technique<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now that you understand the concept of the Flowtime technique, alongside its pros and cons, let\u2019s see how you can make the most out of this technique and boost your productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pick one specific task: no multitasking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Working on only one task at a time (also known as unitasking)<\/b> is the only strict rule of this technique. It may seem that doing multiple things at the same time helps you get more done, but it\u2019s actually quite the opposite. According to studies<\/a>, \u201cthe human mind and brain lack the architecture to perform two or more tasks simultaneously<\/i>.\u201d Multitasking leads to dispersed focus, which results in more errors and half-completed tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only giving your 100% to one task gives you excellent results. As Lindsey Pollak, a career expert and author of Getting from College to Career<\/i><\/a>, said in a Forbes article<\/a>, \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely important to know how to unitask because some projects and decisions require deep, uninterrupted thought. If you can\u2019t do that, you might make an okay decision or do an okay job. But if you can really focus on one thing, you\u2019re more likely to do really well.<\/i>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\ud83d\udca1 If you think the project you\u2019re working on requires multitasking, check out How to switch between projects and tasks without losing productivity<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Remove distractions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This almost goes without saying \u2014 get rid of all distractions before you get to work. You probably already have a pretty good idea of what distracts you the most, whether that\u2019s social media or chit-chatting with your coworkers. Before you get to work, make sure you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Turn off all notifications,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Put your phone in silent mode and\/or in another room,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Put on noise-canceling headphones,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Let your coworkers know you\u2019re working on something important so they don\u2019t interrupt you,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Leave only the things you need for work on your desk (and maybe a cup of coffee or a snack),<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Keep a piece of paper for scribbling down the thoughts that deserve attention, but not right now, such as \u201cI need to pay my bills today<\/i>\u201d or \u201cI need to call a friend to wish her a happy birthday<\/i>\u201d. Write them down and continue focusing on your task. Those thoughts are important, but not urgent \u2014 they can wait for your next break.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udca1 Check out The most common workplace distractions and tips on how to tackle them<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Use a time tracking app<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To make this technique go even smoother, use a time tracking app such as Clockify by CAKE.com<\/a>, which allows you to use a Pomodoro\/Flowtime timer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n Free time tracker<\/span>\nTime tracking software used by millions. Clockify is a time tracker and timesheet app that lets you track work hours across projects.<\/p>\n\n
\n Sign up<\/a>\n\n Learn more<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n \n ![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/clockify\/landing-3.png\")
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n![\"Flowtime](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Flowtime-technique-in-Clockify.png\")
<\/center>\n\n\n\nWhen you start out with the Flowtime technique, you have to write down the exact times you start or stop working, get interrupted, etc. Writing down everything by hand is time-consuming and you have to worry about possibly losing your papers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- You need to plan well<\/b>. This technique requires you to know your tasks in advance, estimate the time they take, and prioritize<\/a> them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Enhances focus<\/b>. This technique makes it easier to engage in deep work<\/a>. Taking a break when you need to is one of the most important factors: you can fully immerse yourself in work only when your brain is refreshed and rested.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- It\u2019s personalized<\/b>. Customized time intervals help you to be in tune with your workflow. Using a personalized time management technique is like wearing a tailored suit; a mass-produced suit from a store can get the job done, but it can\u2019t compare to the tailored one. Don\u2019t feel at ease working in 25-minute intervals and taking 5-minute breaks? Mix and match until you find your ideal time intervals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Write down the time when you got started<\/b>. You can do it manually or use time tracking software<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/clockify\/landing-3@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n![\"Flowtime](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Flowtime-technique-intervals.png\")
<\/center>\n\n\n\n![\"Auto](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Auto-tracker-in-Clockify-1.png\"){kind=tracking}
![\"Summary](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Summary-report-in-Clockify.png\")