The Flowtime technique is a flexible time management method that emphasises working for as long as you can maintain concentration and taking a break only when your focus naturally fades. Instead of following preset intervals, you decide when to work and when to rest based on your own rhythm. The technique encourages deep immersion in a single task and draws on the psychology of flow, a state where you are fully engaged and lose track of time.

The Pomodoro technique divides work into fixed 25‑minute sessions with 5‑minute breaks and prescribes a longer break after four sessions. Its rigid schedule removes the need to fine‑tune your own rhythm. Flowtime, by contrast, imposes no fixed intervals—you work until your focus wanes and choose the length of your break yourself. This flexibility lets you align work and rest with your energy levels and day‑to‑day variations. Flowtime also encourages you to keep a detailed list of tasks and distractions so you can refine your schedule.

Begin by choosing a specific task—Flowtime works best when you unitask rather than multitask. Break large projects into smaller, actionable pieces and set a clear goal for each. Prepare a distraction‑free workspace, then start working on your first task. Let your natural focus determine how long you work, and when you notice fatigue or dwindling concentration take a break. After each session, note what you accomplished and how long you worked; recording distractions can help you refine your schedule. Time‑tracking tools and distraction blockers are useful companions because they measure your focus sessions and reduce interruptions.

• Advantages: Flowtime offers exceptional flexibility—you can adjust work and break durations to match your energy levels from moment to moment. It’s ideal for tasks requiring long, uninterrupted concentration such as writing, coding or research. Because it aligns with your natural productivity rhythms, Flowtime can reduce stress and improve satisfaction. The method also promotes deep work by avoiding timed alarms, encourages focus on a single task and allows you to personalise your pacing.
• Disadvantages: Without an external structure, Flowtime demands self‑discipline and planning. Users might overwork by skipping breaks or take very long breaks if they’re not careful. It can take time to discover your ideal work–rest pattern, and meetings or chaotic environments can interrupt sessions. Maintaining discipline is important to prevent the flexibility from becoming procrastination.

A Flowtime timer can be implemented with many productivity apps. The Flowtime project is an open‑source app that uses a count‑up timer and automatically calculates a break equal to 20 % of your work session. It provides a lightweight task list with drag‑and‑drop ordering, records work and break sessions, synchronises across tabs via the BroadcastChannel API and works offline as a progressive web app. It also offers sound notifications, light/dark themes, localisation in English and Japanese and the ability to export and import your data. Beyond this specific app, time‑tracking tools and distraction blockers can help you monitor sessions and minimise interruptions while practising Flowtime.

Add your tasks to the task list and arrange them with drag‑and‑drop. When you are ready to focus, select a task and press the start button; a count‑up timer will begin and, when you stop, the app will calculate a break equal to 20 % of your work time. Stay focused on one task at a time while the session is running. After finishing a session, take the suggested break, then return to the next task. You can view your session history in the statistics dashboard and export your data to CSV or JSON (coming soon) for analysis. The app persists the timer state when the tab is inactive and synchronises sessions across multiple tabs, so you can continue working even if you navigate away.

The statistics dashboard analyses your focus data across multiple time spans. It provides views for today, week, month, year and all‑time, with charts such as bars and moving averages that visualise your work and rest durations. You can export your data to JSON or CSV and import it back into the app. A GitHub‑style contribution heatmap displays the last 52 weeks of focus activity, and session data are rolled up incrementally; sessions that cross midnight are automatically split. The interface includes metric cards, responsive bar charts, line charts and a task distribution bar. You can adjust settings or import/export data, and the dashboard is cached for offline use as part of the PWA.

Flowtime shines when you need long, uninterrupted concentration—open‑ ended creative work, brainstorming, design, writing, research and development are good examples. It also suits people whose energy levels fluctuate throughout the day because the method adapts to personal rhythms. The Pomodoro technique is ideal for short tasks, intensive study sessions or when you’re battling procrastination; its fixed intervals can provide structure when you have lots of meetings. During productivity slumps, combining Flowtime with short, timed intervals can help you regain momentum.

The Flowtime technique was created by teacher and productivity expert Zoe Read‑Bivens in 2016. She adapted the Pomodoro method because she found that fixed timers interrupted her flow state and wanted a more flexible way to manage her work sessions.

Flow, sometimes called “being in the zone,” is a mental state of complete absorption where you are fully engaged in what you’re doing and lose track of time. Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi described it as an optimal experience in which action and awareness merge and you use your skills to the utmost. Flow states enhance motivation and creativity; neuroscience suggests that during flow the prefrontal cortex temporarily quiets, helping you focus intensely.