Pomodoro Timer
Lengths
Why the breaks are the point
The focus block gets the attention, but the technique works because of what follows it. A short, deliberate break stops the slow slide from working to half-working that happens when you push through for hours. Four rounds then a longer rest is the usual shape.
Making it stick
- Decide the one task before starting the timer.
- Note interruptions rather than acting on them, and carry on.
- Actually leave the screen during the break — that is what makes it a break.
- Adjust the lengths to what you can genuinely hold. Fifty and ten suits many people better.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Work for twenty-five minutes on one thing, then take five off. After four rounds take a longer break. It was named after a tomato-shaped kitchen timer, and the point is less the exact numbers than committing to one task for a stretch you can actually sustain.
No, and many people should not. Every length here is adjustable — some work better at fifty and ten. The structure matters more than the specific minutes.
Pause it, or skip to the break. The traditional advice is to note the interruption and carry on rather than abandoning the session, since stopping and restarting is what breaks the momentum.
Only if you tick "start the next one automatically". Otherwise it waits for you, which suits work where you cannot always break exactly on time.
Only while the page is open. Nothing is stored or uploaded, so reloading starts the count again.