Right after our lightning talk on retention and knowledge transfer, I joined Daniel Wildt for a second session. This time, we were tuning into something less visible but incredibly important — focus, energy, and the rhythm of productivity.
We called it: SONGDORO.
Where the Beat Meets the Flow
Songdoro is the powerful blend of two frameworks: the Pomodoro Technique and the emotional charge of Power Songs.
The idea behind Pomodoro is familiar: focus for 25 minutes, rest for 5, repeat. After four rounds, take a longer break. This simple timeboxing creates structure and helps you avoid burnout. But where Pomodoro excels in discipline, it often lacks energy.
Daniel had this brilliant insight: why not make that timebox musical?
Playlists as Productivity Fuel
With Songdoro, your 25-minute focus session becomes a playlist: four 5-minute songs, finishing with a Power Song — the kind that makes you want to punch the air like Rocky Balboa. These aren’t just background noise. They’re rituals. They’re signals to your brain: it’s time to ship.
This mix of rhythm and ritual turns time management into a motivational experience. You’re not just ticking boxes. You’re delivering with energy.
Respecting Individual Rhythms
We opened the session with this reminder: techniques are guides, not rules. Pomodoro is great, but rigid frameworks can sometimes alienate people instead of helping them. We encouraged participants to experiment.
Some liked metal. Others classical. Some needed silence between each song. Others craved lyrical build-ups. That was the point — respect your rhythm.
The Office Soundtrack
We also explored how music can change the way teams work. Instead of tolerating office noise or total silence, why not curate an experience?
Imagine pairing programming sessions with synced Songdoro playlists. Imagine onboarding new developers by sharing your “focus sound.” You can pair program in sync with the beat — a shared rhythm means shared energy.
Songdoro in Practice
Here’s a typical Songdoro cycle:
🎵 4 tracks of 5 min each
🔥 1 final Power Song
⏱️ 25 min total focus
😌 5 min break with a chill track or silence
This isn’t gimmicky. It’s practical. During a migration project at Dell, I was facing refactoring tasks that required deep focus. Songdoro helped me block the noise, find my flow, and deliver with consistency.
Music as Flow Trigger
Music has always played a role in rituals. From war chants to sports warmups, we use music to anchor attention and boost confidence. With Songdoro, we’re just making that explicit in our daily work.
We asked attendees to remember the last time they heard a song and felt unstoppable. That’s your Power Song. Use it. Shape your day around it.
Crafting Your Setlist
One of the hands-on parts of our talk was building your own Songdoro setlist. We asked people to create 3 focus blocks:
- 🧠 Block 1: Brainstorm — ambient/electronic
- 🛠️ Block 2: Build — driving beats, minimal vocals
- 🚀 Block 3: Ship — high-intensity, motivational
Creating these playlists forced people to think about how they feel while working — and how they want to feel. That’s reflection, and it leads to self-awareness.
For Teams and Leaders
Songdoro isn’t just for individuals. If you lead teams, think about the environment you’re fostering. Are you enabling focus? Are you allowing room for personal rhythms?
Daniel and I challenged attendees to bring these ideas back and start small: one Songdoro session a week, one shared playlist, one reflection.
Final Jam
We closed the session with a Power Song and a standing ovation. It wasn’t just about time management or productivity hacks. It was about reminding people that we’re human, and that energy matters.
If you’re struggling with distractions or fatigue, try Songdoro. Build your playlist. Respect your rhythm. And let the music move you — one Pomodoro at a time.
🎸 Let’s tune up and ship it!