The Pomodoro technique is a time-management method developed by Francesco Cirillo, who used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer as a student. You work in short, timed bursts of 25 minutes with a break after each.
The method
- Choose a task.
- Work on it, and nothing else, for 25 minutes (one Pomodoro).
- Take a short break of about 5 minutes.
- After four Pomodoros, take a longer break, usually 15 to 30 minutes.
What this timer does
- It starts with a focus session, then moves automatically into the break, with a short tone at each change.
- The title shows the stage ("Focus 2 of 4" or "Short break") above the countdown, and the browser tab shows the time left.
- After four focus sessions it uses the longer break length, and you can set all lengths in the boxes above.
- The ring shows progress for the current stage only.
Getting a Pomodoro right
- One task per session. If you finish early, use the time to review what you have done rather than switching to something else.
- Protect the 25 minutes. Write down interruptions and handle them in the break.
- Take real breaks. Stand up, get water, look away from the screen. The 5 minute timer page has a break menu.
- Adjust to your task. Different work suits different lengths. Writing may benefit from 50 minutes; admin may be fine in 15. Use the presets as starting points.
If you just want one session
The 25 minute timer is a single countdown without the cycle.
How long does a full cycle take?
| Preset | Total time for the sequence |
|---|---|
| Classic: 4 × 25 min focus, 3 × 5 min breaks | 1 h 55 min (the long break comes after this) |
| Short: 4 × 15 min focus, 3 × 3 min breaks | 1 h 9 min |
| Long: 3 × 50 min focus, 2 × 10 min breaks | 2 h 50 min |
In this timer a long break replaces the short break after every fourth focus session. If you set four sessions, the sequence ends after the fourth focus session; start another round when you are ready. Switch on Loop under More options to begin again automatically.