Codelinq

Using the Pomodoro technique has always been one of those things that I try to do with good intentions but fail miserably at. I am easily distracted and need to police myself from getting side tracked.

Get Concentrating

Today I setup Concentrate for use as a pomodoro timer, distraction blocker and “nagging boss”.

Step 1: Create a Pomodoro Activity

• I created an activity named “Coding in Windows” because this will be my pomodoro for when I am writing .Net code.
• I set its “Default time to concentrate” to 25 minutes.
• I added a “Switch to Space” action since this will need to put me on my windows desktop (in space 16).
  • Switch to “Space 16″ on Concentrate.
• I added a “Quit Applications” action checked “Relaunch when done” and “Block applications while concentrating” and added the following apps:
  • TweetDeck
• I added a “Block Websites” action and added the following domain groups:
  • General Distractions
  • Social Networks
  • Video Sites
• I added a “Growl a Message” action to nag me at a specified interval:
  • Title: “Still Concentrating?”
  • Message: “Make sure you are focusing.”
  • Display: Every 5 minutes

Step 2: Create a Break Time Activity

• I created an activity named “Break Time”.
• I set its “Default time to concentrate” to 5 minutes.
• I added a “Growl a Message” action to tell me when break time is over.
  • Title: “Breaks Over!”
  • Message: “Get back to work!”
  • Display: “When Done”

What’s wrong with this setup?

1. I have to remember to start Concentrate
2. I have to remember to start a pomodoro when I sit down to do work.
3. I have to remember to start the break time activity when I finish my pomodoro.
4. After breaking for 5 minutes I have to remember to start a pomodoro again.

Possible Solutions:

Solution for #1: Have Concentrate start on startup.

Solution for #2: Make it a habit so that I always do it.. yup easier said than done.

Solution for #3: AppleScript to the rescue

• I created an “Run a Script” action to the “Coding for Windows” pomodoro activity and set to “Run when done”
• Then added the following script:

Solution for #4: AppleScript to the rescue (again)

This time I didn’t want to just start a named activity because I may have multiple pomodoro’s that can be started from the break time pomodoro.

• I created an “Run a Script” action to the “Break Time” pomodoro activity and set to “Run when done”
• Then added the following script: