The Pomodoro Technique(TM) is essentially the same, but waltzing in 25/5 time. A longer interval makes more sense to me too, though. Maybe 45/15 or 50/10; either way, it helps block out distractions - "No, self, I committed to working on this for another fourteen minutes."

I wrote an Emacs work / rest timer (http://github.com/silentbicycle/zwiebel) for that sort of thing, if anybody's interested. (I hooked it up to an XOSD (http://ignavus.net/software.html)-based alert.)

I used to use 45/15 for studying. I could do amazing feats of rapid learning in college that way.

I wrote a PyQt timer for doing the same thing. http://code.google.com/p/ptimer/

There is Chromodoro plugin for Chrome (not very useful unless doing web work)

Pomodoro Timer applet for Gnome (http://linux.softpedia.com/get/Utilities/Pomodoro-Timer-5582...)

RsiBreak for KDE (http://www.rsibreak.org/)

Pomodoro Tasks for Android (currently using)

No timer for me. I drink plenty of water and hence have to take frequent breaks. Never timed it but it might be around 45 min.

I know somebody else mentioned it below somewhere, but since this is the top-most entry regarding software, there is another very good multi-platform program called workrave. I used it while at work with the previously mentioned 48/12 division, but 30/30 sounds great, too. I am going to give it a try right now...

I just found this one for windows, http://sourceforge.net/projects/pomodorotimer/. The most useful feature is that you can set the work and break times - something missing from the few other timers I have tried.

I spent ages looking at various timer software and finally found this one - been using it for years: http://acapsoft.com/det.php?prog=Egg The best thing is how few clicks it takes to start/reset a timer.

I also do the 42 minute thing. A good amount of time to concentrate, but not so long that you are "out of touch" with people that you are communicating with.

Do you use the free time for HN/mail or you really leave the computer to change your mind to that other working mode you mentioned the other day?

I've been using the Pomodoro Technique for a while, and it's proven to be a really great tool.

In fact, I liked it so much, I decided to build my next webapp around it. We're still working on it, but a beta should be out in a few weeks. Sign up for it here: http://www.pomodoroplanner.com

I wonder if it'd be helpful to have a daily mindfulness meditation practice on the same timing schedule used for work.

ie, if you work for 25 minutes ala pomodoro, then in the morning or evening do a 25 minute sitting. If you do 42 minutes of work, do a 42 minute per sitting.

It'd be one more thing every day to help train yourself into focusing during the work periods.

I generally sit when something disturbing happens. Extremely useful practice, from both a spiritual and a productivity perspective.

Same with me. I tend to use sitting as a way to let go of something frustrating/troublesome that came up while working on something.

It's makes getting back to work much easier.

I wrote a Pomodoro Webapp not too long ago ..

http://www.tomato-timer.com

if you use chrome, it has desktop notifications .. and I added a start/stop to timer..

I do 60/20, most of the time.