Without any feature that alerts the user that time has expired, an hourglass provides more distractions than it does benefits. However, its silence leads to another productivity issue: it causes the user to constantly have to shift attention from the task and hand and the timer. Perfect for someone who is easily distracted by repetitive sounds.

Neither of which have ever been used to manage someone's productive hours.Īn hourglass's silence is exactly the opposite. Neither task is helped by the staccato of a grandfather clock or a bomb. But they're garbage for tasks that require immense concentration, like writing or reading. Pomodoro Timers and Hourglasses Are Distracting In other words, during a typical 25-minute session, your timer could be anywhere from two to four minutes off-which makes it undesirable as a productivity management tool or kitchen timer. Hourglasses and Pomodoro Timers are anywhere from 10-20% less accurate than digital devices. But for those who aren't, it's a productivity management system, perfect for those who work from home. If you use the Pomodoro Method, then you're already familiar with the Pomodoro Timer. You need an alternative that's dead-simple to use and distraction-free. And talking to your phone is just going to drive your partner insane.

You might as well stream Netflix instead of work. Constantly checking your phone means also looking at distracting notifications. And it feels like the word 'deadline' is more literal than it is figurative.Īnd on top of the stress and dread, you share an office with someone who demands complete silence.Īnd that's why your mechanical kitchen timer, which sounds like a bomb nearing detonation, just won't do.ĭo you reach for an app or your smartphone personal assistant? Neither are good options.

And to top things off, you can't even remember what day it is. If you're anything like me, there are a dozen open tabs in your browser and you've lost track of all but one. Why Most Time-Tracking Devices and Apps Suck

Pomodoro time tracker app