When I found myself distracted during work hours and struggling to get things done, I decided to try the Pomodoro technique. Many people swear by it, so I thought I’d give it a shot. However, it quickly became clear that the Pomodoro isn’t for everyone—at least not in its original form. Fortunately, there’s a lesser-known variation that has become the perfect solution for my workflow.
It’s called the Flowmodoro, and it lets me work as long as I’m focused and break when I need to. It’s more flexible than the Pomodoro. Since most of my work requires creativity, it helps me tap into every bit of it and maximize my productivity. Let me explain.
The Pomodoro was the distraction
It just doesn’t work for everyone
The idea behind the Pomodoro technique is simple—you break your work sessions into 25-minute intervals of focused work, followed by a short five-minute break. After four sessions, you take a much longer break of about 15 to 30 minutes, and then you start again. It prevents burnout by giving your mind regular breaks and helping you maintain focus throughout the day.
As a Windows user, I could easily start a Pomodoro timer using focus sessions in the Clock app. It’s highly customizable, letting me set longer sessions for intense work. I even built a Pomodoro timer using the Shortcuts app on iPhone because I really wanted this technique to work. So, what went wrong?
Entering a flow state takes time. This is when you’re deeply focused on a task—every action feels effortless, you make the most progress, and the work can even be enjoyable. You’re so immersed that time seems to disappear. On average, reaching this state takes 15 to 30 minutes.
Snapping out of a flow state is jarring—and it’s hard to get back in. That’s my biggest problem with the Pomodoro. These fixed intervals disrupt my flow, so I usually quit using it after two sessions and continue working without it. But since I lose track of time when I’m in the zone, I end up working until I burn out.
So, I looked into variants of the Pomodoro, including the Reverse Pomodoro, and landed on one I think is better for the type of work I do.
Introducing the Flowmodoro
The best way to take advantage of the Flowtime Technique
The Flowmodoro, also known as the Flowtime Technique, is about entering the flow state and maintaining it until you feel your focus starts to fade or you finish the task. There’s no set amount; as long as you feel focused and productive, you just keep going. Afterward, you take a break to reset and recharge.
For the break, a good rule of thumb is that it should be proportional to the work session. For example, if you’ve been working for 25 minutes, you can take a five-minute break. If you’ve been working for 90 minutes, you can break for 15 minutes or more. You can even pick some percentage of the work time (e.g., one-fifth) to calculate how long you should rest for.
Since I often do deep work, such as writing, drawing, and coding, I have found that the Flowmodoro naturally adapts to my attention span. It doesn’t force me to stick to a rigid schedule that can disrupt my creativity and thought process.
Also, there’s no pressure to get the task done before the timer goes off, which would force me to take a break. I can finally just focus on the task instead of the clock while being mindful of burnout. This naturally leads to deeper focus sessions and maximum productivity.
I often felt a sense of failure when I tried the Pomodoro. It’s easy to get interrupted in the middle of a task, especially if you work from home, and the Pomodoro doesn’t account for that. There’s no failed session with the Flowmodoro since it’s flexible and adapts naturally to disruptions.
Record the sessions
Making the most of the Flowmodoro sessions
Here’s where the Flowmodoro gets really interesting—data collection. It’s not a must, but I find it extremely important. At the start of each session, I record the task and start time. When my focus drops, I get distracted, or I finish the task, I record the session’s duration, end time, and reason for ending.
Later, I review the data to identify patterns: my peak focus hours, how long certain tasks take, and when distractions happen most. These insights help me optimize my work schedule and environment for maximum productivity.
Ideally, you’d use a stopwatch to track focus sessions and a timer for breaks. Luckily, major operating systems have built-in clock apps. I’m too lazy to switch between the stopwatch and timer, so I use an iPhone app called Flowtimer. It automatically alternates between a focus stopwatch and a break timer. Plus, it lets me input the task name, automatically logs the day’s sessions, and shows a neat graph to visualize progress.
I then use a note-taking app to record the session’s data. I prefer Apple Notes, but you can use something like Notepad, Notion, or Joplin. Whatever works for you.
Consistency is key to making the Flowmodoro successful
The Flowmodoro is harder to get right than the Pomodoro since there’s no timer to tell you when to work or rest. It’s largely based on how you feel, which can make it challenging when you’re getting started. But if you stick with it, you’ll find a technique that’s perfectly suited for you—especially if your productivity depends on maintaining a flow state, something the Pomodoro doesn’t help with.