For sure we all have used some kind of productivity apps and most of those are not that effective.
I see pomodoro apps as some kind of fake concept with no real impact on my productivity, it doesn't make sense at all. yet it is on the top chart of App Store...
And throughout the years I find only effective to work for me is to work at coffee shops with random background music selected by the shop operator.
So I developed my own "pomodoro" app with a simple function that toggle your reward circle in different ways.
Please use this app at a coffeeshop or any places surround with music :)
Any feedback is craved!
Max asked the essential question on product hunt, I think I should answer here too because lot of people don't bother to ask.
What do you mean by toggle your reward circle in different way?
- I download some other pomodoro app that have some sense of reward, like planting virtual trees, jar of fruits, the basic idea is once you finished a pomodoro timer you will get some kind of virtual goods, and you collect those virtual goods, I don't find it rewarding, or even respect the user.
What is it, why you decided to do that, what was the problem, and why do you think it solves it?
- The different way is that, the main function of this app is that it detect and save the background music using microphone. so if you work at a coffee shop (often music playing at background) you will know which song is currently playing.
- The problem is that, I don't understand why pomodoro app exist, and become popular (on the top paid chart of App Store), I guess because of hustle culture creates stimulating consumption, people think they buy Pomodoro app makes them working super hard and active their goals, it's nothing so bad with that, however I think we should make it smooth, enjoyable as possible.
Personally I am a low energy person I just like short outcome, compare to other people I don't think too much about a 25 minutes work or virtual tree or a virtual fruit in a jar can do anything good for me. however a cup of coffee I can sit and work all day, I am not sure how many people have such habit.
tomoropomodoro is like a religious ritual (and it designed in this way) when you begin to work, do such things first: Find a coffee shop and turn on the app, after 30 second it will tell you what music is playing at that coffee shop, and sniffing each 50 second, it reward instantly, like: oh this coffee is playing xxx and you get the artwork of the album, is related and new, my brain just like it, relatable new information is always good :)
Even if I work along at home, turn on the music in a loud speaker will work too, but I don't recommend with headphone-on, it just not relaxing.
Why background music is important?
- When I was young people tell me doing homework with music playing at background is distracting. however most of modern day computer work doesn't require such concentration, I find very rewarding and easy to work with music turn on, it makes me get into the flow quickly.(the problem is which song to choose) try it yourself :)