How can you be both effective and efficient in your work? What is the best approach to optimal productivity? On the one hand, we know that even machines need to take a break every now and then. On the other hand, you’ve got to milk those moments of inspiration and motivation for all they’re worth. How can we reconcile the appeal of the Pomodoro Technique with the magic of flow? How can we work smarter?

The Pomodoro Technique Revisited

I should preface this by saying that I’m coming from the perspective of working from home. When you’ve got relatively flexible hours and no one looking over your shoulder, you’re easily tempted by distraction and procrastination. Even the passive pressure of nearby coworkers can encourage some people to stay on task (or at least look like they’re working). When you work from home, it’s up to you to stay focused and on task.

Let’s be real. Staying focused is hard, especially for extended periods of time. That’s where the Pomodoro Technique comes into play. I first started experimenting with the Pomodoro Technique five years ago, and I’ve been using it ever since. The basic idea goes like this:

  1. Work for a concentrated period of 25 minutes. Set a timer.
  2. Take a break for 5 minutes. Step away from your computer if you can.
  3. Repeat for about four cycles.
  4. Take a break for 15 minutes.

Those five-minute breaks serve two purposes. First, they give you something to look forward to. They give you permission to browse Twitter for five minutes, rewarding you for 25 minutes of hard work. Second, they set a series of mini deadlines. This way, you organize your work into more digestible chunks. You also get a little boost of motivation at the end of a 25-minute work session, because you want to complete the task before time runs out.

Leveraging a State of Flow

Another productivity benefit of the Pomodoro Technique, especially when working from home, is that it provides structure. But, that structure can also be a source of weakness, particularly in creative fields or in problem solving. Have you ever felt like you just got “in a groove” while doing something? If that 25-minute timer goes off and you “have to” take a break, this can negatively impact your work.

In the context of writing a blog post, for example, it might not make sense to take a break in the middle of a sentence. You probably want to finish your thought. When you find something that strikes the right balance between challenge and skill level, you may experience a state of flow. Flow, as described by psychology professor Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, is when we get so absorbed in what we’re doing that the rest of the world melts away.

Doesn’t that sound like the engaging, meaningful kind of work we all aspire to do and have? Isn’t that how we achieve peak productivity? I know that I can that way sometimes while writing. And I definitely experience a state of flow when editing the vlog too.

The Crossroads of Productivity and Creativity

I’ve been thinking about this apparent contradiction or paradox a lot lately. While I’ve been working from home for many years, the specific circumstances surrounding my work have also changed over the years. Time is always at a premium, so I want to know how I can get the best work done in the time that I have. I want to use my time both effectively and efficiently.

At least for my part, I end up using a combination of the Pomodoro Technique and seeking this state of flow. If I’m working on something and I feel especially engaged, I’ll skip the “required” five-minute break and keep going. I’ve already done that in the process of writing this post. Creative work is most effective in a state of flow.

If I’m not feeling especially engaged, I know that I’ll have that break to look forward to. Sometimes, you just have to get started to keep going, so I commit to those 25-minute focused work sessions at a time. This can be more effective when I’m researching or formulating ideas. This way, during my breaks, I can tap into the default mode network and those ideas can marinate on the mental back burner.

The Problem of Doublethink

In George Orwell’s 1984, we are introduced to the concept of “doublethink.” Simply put, “doublethink” is when you accept two contradictory beliefs to be true. All swans are white and no swans are white. Both can’t be true, because they contradict one another. Such is the problem or dilemma of productivity.

If you believe in the Pomodoro Technique, then you believe in working shorter, focused bursts with intentional, systematic breaks. That’s how you’ll get the most work done. If you subscribe to the state of flow, then you value the ability to “lose yourself” in work, sometimes for hours on end. Time flies with no breaks, because you’re so engrossed in what you’re doing.

Can both be true at the same time? Or is that just another example of doublethink? Something to work on, I suppose.