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Seems like an oxymoron... pomodoro timer is for focus, productivity. Then they add highly distracting chat to it?! I realize the chatting is in between breaks b

Seems like an oxymoron... pomodoro timer is for focus, productivity. Then they add highly distracting chat to it?! I realize the chatting is in between breaks but I don't need more distractions in addition to emails and messaging in between focus sessions.

hirundo 4y ago
It can help with the commitment aspect to make that commitment with another person. If that isn't an issue for you then this is just distraction. By preference, at least for small things, I'll cheat myself before I'll cheat a stranger.
- rambojohnson 4y ago
  what can help with the commitment aspect is NO distractions though. that's the point of pomodoro.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - dazhengca 4y ago
    You’re still only holding yourself accountable, which is harder for some than others. If you don’t have friends to study with, maybe some internet strangers could be a motivational alternative.
sltkr 4y ago
Many people use the pomodoro technique in a social setting. It's what I did in college to finish my master's thesis: I'd group up with a few other people that had their own stuff to work on, we'd sit in the same room, and work while the pomodoro timer was active, and chat during the break times. This site is intended to be a digital version of this that enforces the quiet time while the pomodoro is active. Working together (even if separately) with other people is highly motivating. I found that I was much less likely to procrastinate this way, kind of how I'm less likely to be reading Hacker News instead of working when my boss is standing behind me than when I'm alone. Personally I don't think you need a whole separate website for this; a Discord or IRC bot that runs the pomodoro would work just as well.
- Ilasky 4y ago
  Body doubling is exactly this! (https://doubleapp.xyz/blog/how-to-body-double https://doubleapp.xyz/blog/how-to-body-double) Also called social facilitation (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_facilitation https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_facilitation) When someone else is around it's like a switch gets turned on and BAM - I'm able to do the thing.
  - htkibar 4y ago
    Finally I know the name now - thank you!
  - seydor 4y ago
    Didn't know there was a name for it! It's the same reason why kids can stay in a classroom and not start a riot i guess.
prawn 4y ago
I thought the same. When I remember to use a timer, I find it very motivating, but the breaks are easily filled with email, switching contexts, getting a drink, going to the bathroom or whatever else. Maybe a purely structured chat would work - summarise what you achieved, outline what you will do in your next allotment. But anything beyond that might be time better spent planning and prepping for the next session rather than wasting the first minute getting up to speed?

hirundo 4y ago

It can help with the commitment aspect to make that commitment with another person. If that isn't an issue for you then this is just distraction. By preference, at least for small things, I'll cheat myself before I'll cheat a stranger.

rambojohnson 4y ago
what can help with the commitment aspect is NO distractions though. that's the point of pomodoro.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- dazhengca 4y ago
  You’re still only holding yourself accountable, which is harder for some than others. If you don’t have friends to study with, maybe some internet strangers could be a motivational alternative.

sltkr 4y ago

Many people use the pomodoro technique in a social setting. It's what I did in college to finish my master's thesis: I'd group up with a few other people that had their own stuff to work on, we'd sit in the same room, and work while the pomodoro timer was active, and chat during the break times. This site is intended to be a digital version of this that enforces the quiet time while the pomodoro is active. Working together (even if separately) with other people is highly motivating. I found that I was much less likely to procrastinate this way, kind of how I'm less likely to be reading Hacker News instead of working when my boss is standing behind me than when I'm alone. Personally I don't think you need a whole separate website for this; a Discord or IRC bot that runs the pomodoro would work just as well.

Ilasky 4y ago
Body doubling is exactly this! (https://doubleapp.xyz/blog/how-to-body-double https://doubleapp.xyz/blog/how-to-body-double) Also called social facilitation (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_facilitation https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_facilitation) When someone else is around it's like a switch gets turned on and BAM - I'm able to do the thing.
- htkibar 4y ago
  Finally I know the name now - thank you!
- seydor 4y ago
  Didn't know there was a name for it! It's the same reason why kids can stay in a classroom and not start a riot i guess.

prawn 4y ago

I thought the same. When I remember to use a timer, I find it very motivating, but the breaks are easily filled with email, switching contexts, getting a drink, going to the bathroom or whatever else. Maybe a purely structured chat would work - summarise what you achieved, outline what you will do in your next allotment. But anything beyond that might be time better spent planning and prepping for the next session rather than wasting the first minute getting up to speed?