Pomodoro timer

The Pomodoro Technique, devised by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, alternates fixed blocks of focused work with short breaks — classically 25 minutes on, 5 off, with a longer break after four rounds.

Why fixed blocks help

The value is less in the specific numbers than in the commitment device. A 25-minute block is short enough that starting feels cheap, and firm enough that “I'll check that after the timer” becomes an easy way to defer an interruption. The break is not optional — it is what makes the next block sustainable.

Adjust the length

25 minutes suits work that fragments easily. Deep work that needs a long ramp-up — writing, debugging, mathematics — often works better at 50 minutes on and 10 off, which is why the lengths above are editable. What matters is that the block is defined in advance.

The timer keeps time in the background

The remaining time is computed from an absolute end timestamp, not counted down tick by tick, so switching tabs does not slow the timer. The chime may not sound if the tab has never received a click, since browsers block audio until a user gesture.