What is the Pomodoro Technique?
The Pomodoro Technique is a time-management method created by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. He used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer, and pomodoro is the Italian word for tomato. You work in short, focused blocks, usually 25 minutes, separated by short breaks. After four blocks you take a longer rest.
Students, programmers, writers and remote workers use it to beat procrastination, because starting only a 25-minute task feels easier than facing a whole day of work. Research on its exact benefits is mixed, but many people find the structure helpful.
How a Pomodoro session looks
A classic cycle is 25 minutes of focus, a 5-minute break, and repeat. After four focus blocks you take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. This timer follows that pattern by default and lets you change every length. Some people prefer 50 minutes of work with a 10-minute break for deep tasks such as writing or coding.
Example morning: study 25 minutes, rest 5, study 25, rest 5, study 25, rest 5, study 25, then take a 20-minute break. That is about two hours of focused work with built-in rest.
How to use the timer
- Choose your work, break and long break lengths, or keep the 25, 5 and 15 defaults.
- Decide on one task before you start and press Start.
- Work without switching tasks until the alarm sounds, then take the break.
- Watch the session counter. After every fourth session the timer offers the long break.
Practical tips
- Write down your task before each session so you know exactly what you are doing.
- Use breaks to stand up, stretch and drink water, instead of scrolling your phone.
- If something distracts you, jot it on paper and return to it after the session.
- Adjust the lengths to suit you. If 25 minutes feels too short, try 40 or 50.
Frequently asked questions
Why 25 minutes?
It is the length the technique's creator used. It is long enough to make progress and short enough to stay focused, and you can change it here.
What happens after four sessions?
The timer switches to the long break length you set.
Does the timer start by itself?
No. After each block it waits for you to press Start.
Will it work in a background tab?
Yes, it measures real time, and the tab title also shows the time left.
Are my settings saved?
Your work and break lengths are remembered on this device. Nothing is sent to a server.