Pomodoro Timer
The Pomodoro Technique breaks work into focused 25-minute sessions separated by short breaks. Press Start for a 25-minute focus session; the alarm tells you when to take a break.
How it works
The Pomodoro Technique splits work into 25-minute focused sessions, each followed by a 5-minute break. After four sessions, take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes before starting the cycle again. The fixed length works because a hard deadline curbs the planning fallacy — the tendency to underestimate how long a task will take — and a scheduled break gives working memory a chance to reset before it gets fatigued.
Press Start for a 25-minute session; the timer counts down in the tab title so you can keep the browser in the background while you work, and the alarm marks the end of the session without you having to watch the clock. Start the break timer the same way once the alarm sounds.
25 and 5 minutes are the standard split, but they're not fixed rules — some people use 50-minute sessions with 10-minute breaks for deep, hard-to-interrupt work, or shorten sessions to 15 minutes for tasks that are easy to lose focus on. Set custom minutes on the main timer page if the standard Pomodoro length doesn't fit the task.
Common uses
- Running a single 25-minute focus block on one task with no notifications or tab-switching.
- Chaining several Pomodoros back to back to work through a long to-do list without losing track of time.
- Timing the 5-minute break itself, so a quick breather doesn't stretch into twenty minutes.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is a Pomodoro?
- A standard Pomodoro is 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break. Every fourth break is longer, around 15–30 minutes.
- Why use the Pomodoro Technique?
- Short, timed focus sessions reduce distraction and mental fatigue, making it easier to start tasks and sustain concentration.
- What should I do during the 5-minute break?
- Step away from the screen — stand up, stretch, get water, or look out a window. The point is to rest attention, not switch to another screen-based task like checking email, which keeps the same mental load active.
- What if I finish a task before the 25 minutes are up?
- Use the remaining time to review or refine the work, or start a related small task, rather than ending the session early. Letting the timer run out keeps the rhythm consistent, which is part of what makes the technique effective over a full day.