Yellow People✌!!
Who are we? Developers. What do we do? Code.
Coding is fun and once you get into it you can't get out; we all know that. We tend to work continuously and forget that we have a life to live, I do that most of the time. Developers often hear "Dude, get a life. Do something else other than code”. Honestly, I have heard it many times.
You get all energetic when it comes to developing something new or when there is a bug that doesn't seem to get resolved even after working on it again and again. What do we do then? Generally, we keep working on it until it is resolved or developed.
Is it a good thing to continuously work without taking breaks in between?
NO!! It's a big No. You should not do that. Why? The answer is simple: Brain needs rest, your body needs rest. Period. The attention span of a human is 45 minutes, which means we cannot fully concentrate on the task after the time limit is reached. Yes, you can continue, you might have a good concentration level but is it worth taking a toll on your health?
What will happen when you don’t take breaks while working? Some simple effects of working continuously which we tend to ignore:
- Fatigue
- Eyes, back and neck pain
- Lack of concentration
- Reduced productivity
- Increased Stress
- Procrastination
- Increased screen time
There are many more effects of working continuously which happens on daily basis. The main question is: How do we solve it? How to restrict ourselves from continuous working. The answer to this is simple: Take breaks. 😂 Try implementing time management method called The Pomodoro Technique. This technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. Wiki
Wait, it was developed in 1980s but why are we discussing it now? The reason is coding is addictive and time-consuming process and developers are getting affected by working continuously. We need to understand the fact that this habit is affecting us adversely in various ways.
Pomodoro technique is very much like Agile methodology except for the fact that it is implemented by us under our management. Simply, pomodoro technique involves breaking down the task, assigning each task (here task is called as pomodoro) strict timeline; maximum time limit is 25 minutes, work on the task until the timer is up, take a 5-10-minute break, get away from screens during breaks, come back refreshed and start again with new pomodoro, take long break of about 20-25 minutes after every four pomodoro. The process works to train your brain to focus and helps you make progress despite the distractions.
This looks little difficult to implement, isn’t it?
It is difficult to implement. How do we force our self to take break? You must, for the sake of your mental as well as physical health. We all know this saying “Health is wealth”. Is there anything more important than your health? Nope, never and never going to be. Why don’t we start with small steps? Make a small oath to yourself: I will spend this amount of time on this task, and I will not interrupt myself. I can do it, I know that. I’ll take a break when this task is done, at least for 5 minutes.
Start this for a day in a week and then two days in a week and so on. You’ll see the changes and I’m telling you its worth in the end. All of this.
What changes it’ll bring in your daily routine? Here are some:
- More concentration, less distractions
- Less procrastination
- Time management at its best
- Increased productivity
- Refreshed for every new task
- Relaxation for your eyes, brain, neck and back
- Increased motivation
- Promotes mental agility, focus and flow
Do we need more reasons to add this technique in our life? One of the best things about the Pomodoro Technique is that it’s free and depends on self-management. Implementing the pomodoro technique is simple and requires minimal setup. That is why it works wonders for your productivity and health. Grab your pen and paper, plan your day, then start your timer for 25 minutes or less. Easy!!!
Let me know your views on this in the comment section.