https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique

Won't go into what it is specifically, click on the link above to read and find out what it is. Instead, I just wanted to share my experiences with it.

So we all produce on a computer that is connected to the Internet right? We all own smart phones which are also connected to the Internet. So we're constantly distracted by Facebook, reddit, YouTube, etc.. I've found through personal experience that I fall into the trap of 'constantly wanting to learn something new' because we should be 'perpetual students', right? There is limitless information on the Internet which is readily available, literally at our fingertips. There are new YouTube tutorials posted every hour... new tutorial blog posts being published, heck, there are even new tips and tricks being posted on this very forum. Well, there has to be a limit somehow/somewhere... where we stop learning for just a little while, and just DO... make a track and finish it. The most important part is finishing the track, and also finishing MANY tracks.

I've found that utilizing the Pomodoro technique and working in shorter intervals is far more effective than how I've approached producing in the past. I'm way more focused and productive because it's way easier to focus on something for 25 minutes than it is for, say, 60 minutes. 25 minutes is a long enough duration for me to work on something with pure focus. This approach has also helped me stop the urge to keep checking my emails or text messages every minute. 25 minutes is not too long of a wait for me to get back to someone who's texted/emailed me about something important. And my close family and friends know to call me directly if it's something really urgent. So I can totally live without checking my text messages for 25 minutes.

Besides the emails/texts, this technique has also helped with the constant urge to look up new tutorials, tips/tricks/etc on Reddit, YouTube, various production chat groups, etc. I've learned many techniques so far, I think I've come up with a really great and efficient workflow when producing in my DAW so I think it's safe to say that I don't have as much to learn as I did when I first started out. Now I need to focus on just writing/finishing as many tracks as I can. I really need to balance out the time I spend 'learning' with the amount of time I spend 'doing'. This also relates to the Pareto 80/20 principal: I should be spending 20% of my time producing with pure FOCUS to get 80% of the results, not the other way around.

It's nice when you have all the time in the world to produce music, but it's also very harmful because you have little focus and get very little done at the end of the day. I have promised to myself that 2016 is going to be different. If you are struggling just like I was, I strongly recommend trying the Pomodoro technique. So far, I've finished writing a Verse, Pre Chorus and Chorus using this technique, within the span of 90 minutes or so. That's way more than I have achieved when I didn't use this technique.

So, go ahead, try it! And please share your experiences with it here too! GOOD LUCK!

Wow, this is a great article! Thank you for sharing. 

No problem! Hope it helps you... it's definitely helping me!

By the way, I use a nice FREE app called 30/30: http://3030.binaryhammer.com. I have tried out tons of other similar apps but this is the one that I've stuck with, I love it's unobtrusive, minimalistic design, it is very easy to use and it gets the job done wonderfully.

The app is called 30/30 because you're supposed to work on something for 30 minutes, then do something totally unrelated/rest for the next 30 minutes, and then you repeat that cycle. However, I've been incorporating the classic Pomodoro technique instead and have set the app to intervals of 25 minutes (Produce)/5 minutes (Break). I still keep the classic Pomodoro guide which is 4 cycles of 25/5. The 30/30 app will run for 25/5 minutes four times, then it will stop and I take a much longer break (more than 5 minutes). Usually after the four 25/5 cycles, it's time for me to do some house chores, run errands or prepare a meal/eat. In general, this app has been massively helping me get off from my chair and do something else for a change.

In the past, I've been guilty of sitting in my chair for hours and hours on end..which is really unhealthy. Now, every time the 5 minute break comes around, I'll go grab a glass of water or do some jumping jacks/planks, whatever. It's much healthier than staring at a computer for hours straight. Also, I find my mind to be less cluttered when I break away from the computer every once in a while.

Now, most people will say that something like this isn't very practical... "I don't want to break the flow" or "I'm worried that I might forget what I was doing". Well, I can tell you that I have better ideas when I work in smaller increments! As for the fear of forgetting, I will usually record my ideas down as soon as they come, and this usually happens at the start of the 25 minutes fortunately... so I don't really forget anything or break the flow. So far, I've found that I can come back to what I was doing as if I didn't even take a break at all actually! I don't worry about sound design or stuff like that when I'm writing, it's more important to get all the melodic and harmonic ideas/arrangement down FIRST.

When it comes time to mix, I still use the Pomodoro technique. Since I am forced to focus on something for 25 minutes, I learn to make decisions very quickly instead of dicking around too much with sound design, or adjusting every little thing. Also, I tend to NOT listen to the track on loop (just because I only have 25 minutes at a time), and therefore losing my perspective on it... which can be a very harmful thing.

I believe that humans weren't meant to sit in a chair for 8 hours. By following this method, you can break a lot of bad habits as well as be more productive. It's a Win/Win!

this seems likea good idea.. i'll give it a try

Thanks for sharing, really interesting technique. Your experience kind of mirrors mine, I find that I can't produce when I'm connected to The internet--just too many distractions. For the past few years now, when I produce I turn off internet until I finish what I'm working on, which can be a few days in a row once you get into the production flow.

Cheers, zuddox

@zau Thanx for this great post! I'm gonna try this technique. The stuff you write sounds quite familiar to me. My wife actually calls me a butterfly because I tend to get easily distracted...  So I absolutely understand the checking the email, Facebook etc part you mentioned. On the other hand I can also get really focused. And some projects I can easily work for  3 or 4 hours straight without drinking or going for bathroom brakes. I basically just ignore my body. It's not something I want, I just get caught up in the flow of the project. I'm gonna try that app. Thanx again.   

Now I know why it takes so much time to finish a track. Great point. Thanks.

Just wanted to bump this thread because I've been using the pomodoro technique lately with my schoolwork and my job and it has been incredible for me. It is amazing what I can get done with 25 minute spurts of focused work.  I haven't yet tried it with "creative" endeavors like music, but for "work", it has been quite amazing.  Y'all should check it out.

I also finally started trying this as a way to juggle all the things in my life right now, and I can definitely attest to how much it can keep you on track to get the work done that you need done. I've been using it for piano practice and ear training, homework and studying, and even worked on some music and sound design! I've been tracking my time with the Focus Productivity Timer app because I can start/stop the timer from both my phone and my computer.

For a fun challenge, see if you can complete an entire song within one Pomodoro cycle. Hard Mode: Move on to a different section after each break. Sound design for 25 minutes, compose for 25 minutes, arrange for 25 minutes, mix and finish in 25 minutes.