PomodoroHow to use the timer
- Write the task. Type what you will work on in "Today's tasks" and how many rounds you expect it to need.
- Press Start and work on that task only until the bell.
- Take the short break away from the screen. The timer moves to it by itself.
- After four rounds, take the long break.
- At the end of the day, look at the count. Tomorrow, try to match it.
Why a timer helps
Most of us do not lack time so much as unbroken time. An hour of study that is cut by six glances at the phone is not an hour. The method fixes this with a small bargain: for the next 25 minutes you do one thing and nothing else, and in return you get a real break that you do not have to feel guilty about. The promise is short enough to keep, and a day of kept promises adds up to a surprising amount of work.
The timer also turns effort into something you can count. "I studied a lot" is a feeling. "Seven rounds today, five yesterday" is a fact, and facts are what plans are made of. After a week you will know how many rounds a chapter or a report takes you, and your plans will start to come true.
What this timer does
- Counts the set of four and moves between focus, short break and long break in the right order.
- Stays accurate when the tab is in the background, because it works from the clock.
- Rings a bell and, if you allow it, shows a notification when time is up.
- Keeps a task list with your estimate and the rounds actually spent on each task.
- Shows today's total and the last seven days.
- Lets you set any lengths, or pick a ready rhythm.
- Keeps everything on your device. There is no account and nothing to sync.
Start small
Do not plan twelve rounds on the first day. Plan four: one set, about two hours. Put the phone in another room, choose a task you can describe in one line, and stop at every bell. If four go well, do four more tomorrow. The page on how the method works explains the rules in five minutes, and common problems covers what to change if it does not go smoothly.
Questions people ask
How does the Pomodoro method work?
Choose one task, work on it for 25 minutes without switching, then rest for 5 minutes. After four such rounds, take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.
Is this timer free?
Yes. There is no login, no paid version and nothing to install. Your settings, tasks and daily counts stay in your own browser.
Can I change the 25 minutes?
Yes. Open Settings to choose any lengths, or use the ready 50/10, 45/15 and 90/20 timers.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Tick "Keep the screen on" so that the phone does not sleep during a round, and turn the media volume up for the bell.
An independent site. The method described here was created by Francesco Cirillo, and Pomodoro Technique is his registered trademark. This site is not connected with him or his company. The timer is free, needs no login and keeps your settings and counts only in your own browser.