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Pomodoro Timer

Run the classic Pomodoro work-and-break cycle right in your browser, with custom durations and an audible alert.

Pomodoro Timer

Work

25:00

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What is the Pomodoro Technique?

Created by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, the Pomodoro Technique splits work into 25-minute focused bursts ("pomodoros") separated by 5-minute breaks, with a longer break every four pomodoros. The structure helps protect attention from open-ended browsing, and the predictable break gives your brain a real chance to rest. This timer runs that cycle for you, with sensible defaults you can override.

How to use the Pomodoro timer

  1. Adjust the work, short break and long break durations if you don't like the defaults (25 / 5 / 15 minutes). The standard pomodoro is 25 minutes, but anything from 20 to 50 is a reasonable starting point.
  2. Click Start. The work phase begins. When it ends, you'll hear a chime (unless muted) and the timer auto-rolls into a short break.
  3. Take the break. Stand up, stretch, look out a window — anything that isn't more screen time. The auto-roll into the next work phase happens when the break ends.
  4. After every fourth completed pomodoro, the timer rolls into the long break instead of a short one. This is intentional and matches the original technique.
  5. Use Skip to jump ahead if you finished early, or Reset to clear the cycle counter and start a fresh session.

Why 25/5/15?

The original Pomodoro Technique uses 25 minutes of focused work, a 5-minute break, and a longer 15- to 30-minute break after every four pomodoros. The numbers aren't magical — they're a starting point. People doing deep, complex work often extend pomodoros to 50 minutes and breaks to 10. People with shorter attention spans or doing fragmented work often shorten everything. The key idea is the structure, not the specific numbers.

Tips for getting the most from it

Pick one task per pomodoro and write it down before starting. Keep distractions out — close chat, silence the phone, queue up a do-not-disturb status. If you get interrupted, restart the current pomodoro rather than counting it as half-done. After 3-4 cycles, take a real break: walk, eat, do something physical. The technique works best when treated as a habit, not a one-off productivity hack.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the work phase 25 minutes?
It's the original Pomodoro length proposed by Francesco Cirillo, chosen because it's long enough for meaningful focus and short enough to commit to — even on tough days. You can override it to 20, 30, 50 or any value in this tool; it's just the default.
Will the chime play if the tab is in the background?
Usually yes, but modern browsers heavily throttle background tabs. The chime is most reliable when the tab is at least partially visible. As a backup, the page tab title shows the remaining time so you can glance at it from any app. If chimes are critical, keep the tab pinned and visible.
Can I change the durations mid-session?
Yes. While paused, edit the work / short / long fields and the current phase resets to the new duration. Changing them while running won't shorten the active phase — it'll only affect the next phase to keep things from feeling jumpy.
What does Skip do?
Skip ends the current phase early and rolls into the next one. If you skip during a work phase, it counts as a completed pomodoro (so use it when you genuinely finished the task). If you skip during a break, you go straight back to work.
Why is there a long break?
Sustained focus has diminishing returns — after roughly two hours of work, your brain genuinely benefits from a longer recovery period. The 15-minute long break every four pomodoros gives that without disrupting the rhythm. Skip it occasionally if you're in a flow, but don't make a habit of it.
Does the cycle counter survive a reload?
No — the counter resets when the tab closes. If you want session-spanning tracking, jot down the count manually or roll it into a habit-tracking app. The timer itself is intentionally simple and stateless.
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