Pomodoro Timer

The Pomodoro Technique breaks work into focused blocks separated by short breaks. This timer runs the whole cycle for you: a focus block, a short break, and after every few rounds a longer break, with a chime at each change and the countdown in your browser tab. Set your own lengths or pick a preset, skip a phase when you need to, and see the full session on a timeline.

Your settings are saved on this device. The timer measures against your clock, so it stays accurate even when the tab is in the background.

Session length = rounds × focus + short breaks + long breaks

Francesco Cirillo developed the method in the late 1980s while studying at university, timing himself with a tomato-shaped kitchen timer, pomodoro in Italian. The classic rules are simple: choose a task, work on it for 25 minutes without interruption, take a 5-minute break, and after four pomodoros take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. If something distracts you during a block, write it down and return to it later.

Classic. Four 25-minute blocks with 5-minute breaks take 1 h 55 min, of which 100 minutes is focused work.

A working day. Eight rounds with a 15-minute break after the fourth take 4 h 5 min, giving 3 h 20 min of focused time.

Longer focus. Three 50-minute blocks with 10-minute breaks take 2 h 50 min, which suits deep work such as writing or programming.

A short, fixed block lowers the barrier to starting, because committing to 25 minutes feels manageable even for an unpleasant task. Regular breaks help maintain attention across a long day, and counting completed pomodoros gives a realistic measure of how much focused time a task really takes, which improves future planning. Research on breaks during work suggests that short, regular pauses can reduce fatigue, though the ideal lengths vary from person to person and task to task, so treat 25 and 5 as a starting point.

• Stand up, stretch or walk around; moving helps more than scrolling a phone.
• Look at something far away for a while to rest your eyes, as eye-care guidance suggests during screen work.
• Refill water, but save email and messages for a scheduled block so they do not spill into focus time.
• Use the long break for a snack, fresh air or a short walk outside.

The technique works well for groups too. Study groups can run synchronized blocks, working quietly during focus time and talking during breaks, which keeps sessions on track without anyone having to police them. Some remote teams share a focus block on a video call with cameras on and microphones muted, which many people find helps them start and stay on task. Agree on the block length in advance, and keep the long break long enough for people to step away from their screens.

Plan the tasks for your pomodoros before you start, and break large jobs into pieces that fit one or two blocks. Turn off notifications during focus time. If a block regularly feels too short to get into flow, try 45 or 50 minutes; if your attention fades, try 15 or 20. Stop the session when the planned rounds are done, and review how many pomodoros each task took.