Setting a timer is good for focusing on a task, but you need to have a solid idea on what to work on. Assuming you have a goal, the next task becomes planning if you don't have a concrete next task yet. The five minute breaks are tricky though. I can't use them for browsing the web, since once I start that, I won't stop that after just the five minutes. Stepping away from the computer to spend some time thinking about what to do next would be good though. Not stepping away from the computer for the break and having the break stretch on is generally what breaks a Pomodoro run for me.
I should try the Pomodoro routine again, I've been a lot less structured with my work/break schedule.
I tried a similar technique a year ago, and I had similar results. I found myself straying from the 25/5 by 5, 10 or more minutes.
Ultimately, it was beneficial because it forced me to focus on the tasks and how much time I was allotting to breaks.
Once you get the habits down, I would suspect the timer would be needed less and less. Similar to how people who count calories get used to it and know caloric values of what they're eating, so they eventually stop counting calories (or get sick and tired of trying to keep up with it).
I had the same question a while ago and a few people suggested bumping up the time to 45 minutes.
What I've noticed is that a timed 5 minute break is extremely short. It's pretty easy to keep the flow right through ... you can read HN or check which emails need attention with half a brain and keep the other half thinking about the task.
Or just go grab a cup of coffee. That is surely low-key enough not to break your flow right?
Or try 5 minutes of nothing. Just sit there but refrain from touching either keyboard or mouse. You can think/daydream/meditate/try to solve the problem you were working on in your head/etc. :D
I'm a bit skeptical of whether it will be suitable if I'm programming all day. Perhaps bumping up the timer a bit would help me to get in the flow.
Has anyone else found this technique helpful?