How to use the Pomodoro timer
- Check the lengths under Settings: Focus, Short break, Long break and the number of focus sessions before the long break.
- Press Start. The ring empties as the focus session runs, and the status line shows which session you are on, such as “Session 1 of 4”.
- When a phase ends, a sound plays and the next phase begins. With Start the next phase automatically ticked (the default), the timer moves on by itself; untick it to start each phase yourself.
- Use Skip to jump to the next phase and Reset to start the cycle again. The counter under the clock shows how many focus sessions you have completed.
The tab title shows the time left, so you can keep the Pomodoro timer in a background tab while you work in another window. Your settings are stored only on this device.
Where the Pomodoro Technique comes from
Francesco Cirillo developed the method in the late 1980s while he was a university student. He used a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato, pomodoro in Italian, to commit to short stretches of study. Each work block became known as “a pomodoro”. The idea is simple: a fixed, short deadline makes it easier to start, and regular breaks help you keep your attention through the day.
Tips for better focus sessions
- Pick one task before you press Start. Write it down so you are not deciding what to do while the clock runs.
- Protect the session. Silence notifications and note any distracting thought on paper to deal with later.
- Really take the break. Stand up, stretch, drink water or look out of a window rather than checking messages.
- Group small jobs. Emails and quick replies can share one session instead of interrupting several.
Variations to try
| Pattern | Focus | Short break | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | 25 min | 5 min | Studying, writing, getting started on hard tasks |
| Extended | 50 min | 10 min | Deep work once you are in the flow |
| Short | 15 min | 3 min | Low-energy days, younger students |
Change the numbers under Settings to use any of these. For a single block without the cycle, use the 25 minute timer or the general online timer. To see how much you worked across a day, add up your sessions with the work hours calculator.