I've done them on and off. A good trick if you're worried about derailing is to spend your breaks exclusively like this: - sit in your chair with your eyes clo

I've done them on and off. A good trick if you're worried about derailing is to spend your breaks exclusively like this: - sit in your chair with your eyes closed (standing or lying down is ok too) - let your mind become blank. Just focus on your breathing. - Thoughts of your work may float through your mind. That's okay, you're allowed to think about them, as long as it's passive; you shouldn't be focusing on them. - Bio breaks are allowed. Browsing or other device usage (checking texts) is not. I did this mostly in undergrad when I needed to hit deadlines. I found it was a good way to keep my energy up. Also, sometimes I'd catch myself diving too deep into a tangent. Note: I usually didn't follow the full technique of setting specific goals for each pom and/or tracking whether I reached them. I used the standard 4x25min with 5min breaks, and then took a longer break (or nap) where I was allowed to check email, or other potentially distracting activities.