Pomodoro Timer
Work for 25, break for 5 โ with automatic cycles and a session count.
About this Pomodoro timer
Twenty-five minutes of focus, five minutes off, and a longer break after four rounds โ with the cycle handled for you. A ring shows progress, a chime marks each change, and the next phase starts automatically unless you turn that off.
All four intervals are adjustable, so the technique bends to the work rather than the other way round. Today's session count is kept on this device.
Where the technique came from
Francesco Cirillo devised it as a university student in the late 1980s, using a tomato-shaped kitchen timer โ pomodoro is Italian for tomato. The method is deliberately mechanical: pick one task, set the timer, work until it rings, then stop whether or not you are finished.
The value is less in the twenty-five minutes than in the commitment. A bounded interval makes starting easier, because you are agreeing to a short stretch rather than an open-ended one. It also makes interruptions visible: if you break a session, you notice.
Making it actually work
- Decide the task before starting the timer. A session spent working out what to do is a session wasted.
- Take the breaks. Skipping them defeats the point โ the rhythm is what makes the focus sustainable.
- Adjust the interval. Twenty-five minutes suits fragmented work; deep work often wants 50 with a 10-minute break.
- Leave interruptions for the break. Write down whatever surfaces and deal with it when the timer rings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
Work in focused intervals โ traditionally 25 minutes โ separated by short breaks, with a longer break after four rounds. It was devised by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s and named after his tomato-shaped kitchen timer.
Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. It tracks wall-clock time rather than counting frames, so a backgrounded tab still ends the session at the right moment, and the remaining time shows in the tab title.
Can I change the 25-minute interval?
Yes โ focus length, both break lengths and the number of sessions before a long break are all adjustable, and your settings are remembered.
Why 25 minutes?
It is long enough to make real progress and short enough that starting is not daunting. The specific number matters less than committing to a fixed, uninterrupted stretch โ many people prefer 50 minutes for deeper work.