PomodoroWhen 25 and 5 is the right choice
This is the rhythm to begin with, and for many kinds of work it remains the best. Twenty-five minutes is short enough that almost anyone can promise it, even on a bad day and even for a task they dislike. It is long enough to finish something real: a set of sums, a page of notes, a clear email, a section of a report. And the frequent breaks keep the mind fresh, so the eighth round of the day can be nearly as good as the first.
It suits best:
- Revision and memorising, where short, frequent testing works well.
- Routine practice: exercises, problem sets, typing, handwriting.
- Work you are avoiding, where the main difficulty is starting.
- Days with many small tasks.
- Anyone new to working with a timer.
How a set of four runs
One full set takes two hours and ten minutes on the clock: four rounds of 25 minutes with three breaks of 5 minutes, followed by a long break of 15 minutes or a little more. Out of that, 100 minutes are focused work. Two sets make a solid morning; four sets are a full day's work for most people.
| Rounds | Focus time | Clock time with breaks |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 50 min | 55 min |
| 4 | 1 h 40 min | 1 h 55 min, then the long break |
| 8 | 3 h 20 min | about 4 h 5 min |
| 12 | 5 h | about 6 h 15 min |
Making the most of it
Write the task before you press Start, keep the phone out of reach, and stop when the bell rings. Use the five minutes away from the screen. New to the method? Read how it works first, then come back and run your first set of four. If, after a fair trial of a week or two, the bell keeps cutting you off in the middle of deep thought, try 50 and 10.
Questions people ask
How long is one full pomodoro cycle?
Four rounds of 25 minutes with three 5 minute breaks take 1 hour 55 minutes. With a 15 minute long break, a full cycle is 2 hours 10 minutes.
Is the long break 15 or 30 minutes?
Anything from 15 to 30 minutes is usual. Take the longer end when the break includes a meal, or late in the day.
Other timers
Guides
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.