Introduction
After inventing the concept of Pomodoro + ASMR in 2020, Peaceful Ambience has created a new Pomodoro format, which represents an evolution over the classic format and places special emphasis on functioning as a guide for users: Dynamic Pomodoro Session.
The goal of this new format is not to replace the original Pomodoro format, but to coexist with it. Depending on your task, at times you will prefer to use a classic Pomodoro session, while other times a Dynamic Pomodoro Session will be just what you need.
How it was created
After creating more than 150 Pomodoro sessions of different styles and durations over the last few years, I have analyzed statistics regarding views and retention, as well as your comments, opinions and surveys, to create this new Pomodoro format.
In addition to these insights, I’ve also done some studies on the subject, based on academic papers published by researchers, whose sources can be found at the end of this article. All of this has helped me develop a new Pomodoro session that maintains the essence of the classic format, but goes one step further in guiding us through the work session.
How it works
The Dynamic Pomodoro Session format also divides time into work and break intervals, but in this format the intervals are not always the same length: the first and third blocks of work are 50 minutes long (with 10-minute breaks), while the second and fourth work blocks are 25 minutes long (with 5-minute breaks).
This structure, that alternates durations, is better adapted to how we function and the way our brain works. Usually when we start a Pomodoro session we do it with motivation and with low levels of fatigue, which is why a Dynamic Pomodoro Session always starts with a long block of work, to take advantage of our initial boost of energy and concentration.
After this first 50-minute block, we will have completed a third of the session, so next the new format includes a short block of work of 25 minutes. This not only gives us a little respite after a long work block, but also this short block helps us enhance our sense of progress, keeping our motivation high.
To compensate for a short block of work, the third block is back to 50 minutes in length. This allows us to make the most of our long-term concentration, and carry out tasks that cannot be done in a short block.
To conclude, the Dynamic Pomodoro Session ends with another short block of work, to convey the feeling that the end is near, keeping us motivated so that we can complete the session, also allowing us to finish some final tasks of our work.
In short, the Dynamic Pomodoro Session adapts to our brain’s energy and fatigue levels, taking advantage of its low points for our own benefit. This way, we can maintain high levels of motivation and concentration throughout the session.
Working as a guide
One of the main novelties of this format, in addition to its distribution of work blocks, lies in the guide that accompanies the entire session. This guide is especially useful for those whose work is made up of tasks of different duration and difficulty, and find it hard to organize their time in the most effective way.
For the first 50-minute block of work, the guide included in the Dynamic Pomodoro Session recommends starting our work with the tasks that are most difficult for us, especially those that are most urgent or tedious.
After this first block, the guide advises us to work on the second block (of 25 minutes) in Autofocus mode: Work on what you’re naturally drawn to. This may mean working on easier tasks, shorter ones, or just the ones that appeal to you the most. To keep this trend, the third block of work (of 50 minutes), stays on Autofocus mode, so that all the small or pleasant but necessary tasks have their space.
Finally, the Dynamic Pomodoro Session guide advises us to dedicate the last block of 25 minutes to clear unfinished tasks, to increase the feeling of fulfillment and end the session with a positive mindset.
If your job is made up of a single big task, you can ignore this guide and use the Dynamic Pomodoro Session like a normal session, simply taking advantage of the new and improved time intervals layout.
How to use it
You can start using the Dynamic Pomodoro method through my study videos on Peaceful Ambience YouTube channel. There are already over 30 videos implementing this method, with more Dynamic Pomodoro Sessions coming soon to the channel.
Dynamic Pomodoro Session:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCi9ABxuQZQ
Peaceful Ambience YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiwmYILY_sjfMfitiR-NrJw
Dynamic Pomodoro Session, created by Peaceful Ambience (August 23, 2022)
Last update: October 2023
Sources:
Cirillo (2006). The Pomodoro Technique
Almalki et al. (2010). Anti-procrastination Online Tool for Graduate Students Based on the Pomodoro Technique
Gobbo & Vaccari (2008). The Pomodoro Technique for Sustainable Pace in Extreme Programming Teams
Wang et al. (2010). Turning Time from Enemy into an Ally Using the Pomodoro Technique
Extra (updated on May 2023): Biwer et al. (2023). Understanding effort regulation: Comparing ‘Pomodoro’ breaks and self-regulated breaks