Breaks

Spending significant amounts of time pairing can be very exhausting. Keeping the communication channel open while coding is an extra activity that pairs have to do all the time. Things that are trivial for someone may not be as trivial for someone else at that point. After a few pairing iterations, people involved in pair programming are usually tired, and this leads to decreased clarity and/or pair dysfunction.

Never forget we are human beings doing an intellectually intensive task. As humans, our potential is extraordinary, but we are not immune to failures, especially when tired. If you want to give your best when programming, avoid pushing your mental stamina beyond its boundaries. A sustainable pace is key.

Important

Remember to have breaks when you are working and especially when pairing.

Pomodoro

The Pomodoro Technique was proposed in late 1980s by Italian consultant Francesco Cirillo. It is an excellent way to balance short sprints of work with regular...