The Day I Realized 'Not Resting Makes Me Slower' - A Web Engineer's Pomodoro Experience
Introduction
I work as a web engineer. With tasks like pre-release work and bug fixes, I often find myself in situations where I feel "I need to hurry!" and end up focusing for hours without taking breaks.
But the result was――
Fatigue accumulated more and more, and I couldn't concentrate as well in the later hours. Mistakes increased, and work got delayed...
"Not taking breaks to improve efficiency" was actually counterproductive.
Discovering the Pomodoro Technique
That's when I tried the Pomodoro Technique. It's a super simple time management method: 25 minutes of focus + 5 minutes of break, repeated as one set.
At first, honestly, I thought "I don't need a 5-minute break." But when I actually tried it...
- I could maintain a focused state without forcing it
- Breaks helped reset my brain
- Fatigue was noticeably lighter
- Reduced anxiety led to fewer mistakes
And most importantly, my productivity improved dramatically.
Benefits I Experienced
| Aspect | Before (Working Without Breaks) | After (Pomodoro) |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Gradually declined | Maintained high level throughout |
| Fatigue | Burned out in later hours | Barely felt any |
| Progress | Sometimes delayed due to anxiety | Proceeded as planned |
| Mental State | Constantly feeling chased | Feeling in control |
I never thought "taking proper breaks even for short periods" could be this effective.
Who Should Try This?
- Engineers who get overwhelmed before releases
- People whose concentration drops during long work sessions
- Those who struggle with deciding where to start
- People who have difficulty breaking down tasks into smaller pieces
Breaks aren't weakness—they're a strategy for efficiency.
Conclusion
Since implementing the Pomodoro Technique, I experienced for the first time "getting results without getting tired."
I want to tell my past self who got tired and failed the harder I worked: "Just try one set first, and take that break."
P.S.: The Tool I Use
I created a minimal Pomodoro timer called pomoro.app and still use it today. I love it because it has no unnecessary features and doesn't break my concentration.
Feel free to give it a try.