Following a Tabata session with the clock
A Tabata round is 30 seconds long, so each round starts when the clock shows a whole or half minute, and the rest starts 20 seconds later:
| Round | Work (clock shows) | Rest (clock shows) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 04:00 → 03:40 | 03:40 → 03:30 |
| 2 | 03:30 → 03:10 | 03:10 → 03:00 |
| 3 | 03:00 → 02:40 | 02:40 → 02:30 |
| 4 | 02:30 → 02:10 | 02:10 → 02:00 |
| 5 | 02:00 → 01:40 | 01:40 → 01:30 |
| 6 | 01:30 → 01:10 | 01:10 → 01:00 |
| 7 | 01:00 → 00:40 | 00:40 → 00:30 |
| 8 | 00:30 → 00:10 | 00:10 → 00:00 |
In short: work while the seconds go from :00 to :40 or from :30 to :10, rest for the next 10 seconds. Full screen makes the digits easy to read mid-workout.
Tabata-style intervals are very intense. If you are new to exercise or have a health condition, it is sensible to check with a professional first and to warm up beforehand, for example with the 5 minute timer.
Coffee, tea and other four-minute jobs
Four minutes is a usual steeping time for French press coffee and for many black teas. It is also a good limit for small chores: unload the dishwasher, sort the mail, or answer the quick messages before you start real work.
A famous four minutes
On 6 May 1954, Roger Bannister became the first person officially recorded running a mile in under four minutes, in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. Set this timer and try to imagine covering a mile before the alarm.
How the timer works
Press Start on the 4 minute timer to begin, Pause to stop and Reset to return to 04:00. +1 min adds a minute, for example to turn a Tabata block into a 5-minute session with a cool-down. The alarm can be muted, phones that support it vibrate, and the timer stays exact in background tabs, keeps the screen on while running where supported and works offline once loaded. For a shorter round, see the 3 minute timer.