Why does hyper productivity seem like the turf of business executives, entrepreneurs, and tech bros?

Where are the productivity hacks for the pixel-pushing designers? The emailing-phone-calling-project-managing-busy-body? The full-time mom trying to get a side gig off the ground? Or the regular dude just trying to get things done before Happy Hour?

These are the people who need productivity hacks the most. They have bosses, deadlines, distractions, and better things to do. It’s time to bring productivity to the people. It’s time for Punkrock Pomodoro.

The Pomodoro Technique was invented by an Italian consultant who devised a time management tactic in which you slice up your day into 25-minute bits, like a tomato (his analogy, not my stereotype). You set a timer for 25 minutes and work on a task. When the timer dings, you take a five-minute break, reset the timer, and move to the next task.

Sounds effective. And boring. A little robotic. And a bit oppressive. Like an updated version of being chained to an oar on a galley, but you’re the guy beating the drum and rowing.

A productivity hack for the people!

Punkrock Pomodoro ditches the timer. Instead of working by time, you work by punk album. You play a vinyl, CD, an EP, an MP3, or whatever format to spark your own productivity revolution. For example, Bane’s Give Blood is a perfect 25-minute Pomodoro burst of activity.

And who says it has to be 25 minutes? Don’t listen the establishment! If I want to squeeze in two more minutes of punkrock productivity, then I’ll listen to all 27 minutes of Sick Of It All’s Blood, Sweat, and Tears.

Or I might go longer, and more epic, and blast 55 minutes of awesomeness from Refused’s The Shape of Punk to Come. Although Mr. Pomodoro might approve of Fucked Up’s briefer, yet no less rocking, Zodiac EPs, which stay under the 25-minute time frame.

EPs offer endless opportunities for flashes of Punkrock Productivity. Just go digging into through all those little DIY beauties you bought at those dive bar concerts — you and your to-do list won’t regret it.

How about Concerto Pomodoro?

Of course this can work for any genre of music: Blues Pomorodoro? Yes, please. Classical? Shall we dub thee Concerto Pomodoro? There’s Grindcore Pomodoro for the frenetically productive. Thrash Pomodoro works well too — Slayer’s Reign in Blood clocks in under 30 minutes.

Some punk purists might point out that I’ve listed hardcore albums. Well, that’s the beauty of Punkrock Pomodoro — you can listen to whatever you want, whether it’s hardcore punk, glam punk, or cowpunk. Punk albums just happen to be beautifully brief, so you can clear your emails in 25 minutes listening to Propagandhi’s Less Talk, More Rock. But if you find your groove with Concerto Pomodoro, go for it!

The point isn’t about the music you choose or the precise time you set. Getting things done isn’t always about time management. It’s also about energy management. It doesn’t matter what our productivity hacker overlords say — we’re not machines. We don’t always have enough time to do everything we want to do, but we definitely have energy to do what we need to do. Music — the music you love — helps you get there.

So, pick an album you love, put on some headphones, and rock your way to new productivity heights!