I’ve tried numerous apps to help me stay focused, but I tend to fall back to my built-in clock app—so I’ve decided to fully embrace it. Here’s why a clock app is all the productivity tool I need.
I Work in Timed Bursts
Ever since I first heard of the Pomodoro method, it has resonated with me. If you’re unfamiliar, it goes like this: work for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, work for another 25 minutes, then take another 5-minute break. After a few rounds of this, take a longer 15-minute break.
These times are not set in stone. If you work better in 50-minute bursts, followed by a 10-minute break, then go for it. This timed methodpairs well with mindfulness practice and exercise, creating a virtuous cycle.
There aremany Pomodoro apps to help you track time. Some hover in the corner of your screen, some have a ticking clock sound, and some have fancy backgrounds and other visual elements. Finding one that is helpful can be a task in itself, especially if you are as particular about your software as I am.
After hunting around, I’ve come to accept that the built-in clock app usually has the right combination of features, isn’t trying to upsell me anything, and integrates well with the rest of my phone or PC.
So instead of letting an app set the time for me, I manually set the time myself using a built-in timer. These days, I even let a voice assistant set the time for me by saying, “Hi Bixby, set a timer for 25 minutes.”
I Know When to Start and Stop My Breaks
When you’re using your built-in clock app, it’s important to remember to set the break time yourself. It won’t kick in automatically on its own. As soon as my work session comes to an end, I set a 5-minute timer. I like to use the default timer app on my watch, so that I’ll hear the alarm wherever I am.
During this time, it’s best to get up and move around. A benefit of working from home means I can go to whichever corner of the house or my yard I want to. I can pace around. I can stretch. I can exercise.
When the break is done, I set my timer for 25 minutes and get back to work. I find the built-in clock is better for these transitions, since I need time to get back to my desk or wherever I am working. I would often pause Pomodoro apps that automatically switch for me, then forget to unpause them, defeating a whole point.
There’s a Stopwatch for Longer Tasks
Your built-in clock isn’t merely a replacement for a Pomodoro app. After all, there aredownsides to the Pomodoro method, so it is by no means perfect for everyone or for all types of work.
You can use a longer timer instead, or switch over to the stopwatch feature, to set longer time blocks. You may want to spend three hours editing. You might tell yourself you will study for one hour and then move on to something else. Maybe you want to process as many photos as you can in two hours and save the rest for tomorrow.
Whatever your goal is, giving yourself a time allotment can help you avoid sitting there aimlessly, fluttering from one distraction to the next.
This deliberate time management helps you stay focused on what you’re doing and aware of how you’re spending your days.
I Can Divide My Day Using Alarms
If your time blocks are pretty consistent each day, you can set recurring alarms. An alarm at 10AM might mean it’s time to begin responding to email and checking Slack. An alarm at noon means it’s time for lunch. An alarm at 1PM means it’s time for deep work, where youturn on Do Not Disturb mode in a way that works for you.
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With a combination of the timer, stopwatch, and alarm features, I have everything I need to stay on task. I don’t need to seek out other apps or pay for other services. I just need to stick with this practice long enough to make it a habit, at which point it becomes second nature. When I sit down at my desk, I start the clock.
