Free tool
Pomodoro timer
A simple focus timer: 25 minutes of work, a 5-minute break, and a longer break after every four rounds. Change the times to suit you.
Focus
25:00
How to use it
- Pick one task and write it down.
- Press Start and work only on that task until the timer ends.
- Take the short break: stand up, stretch or get a drink, away from your screen if you can.
- After every four focus rounds, take a longer break.
The timer keeps time correctly even if you switch to another tab, and the time left shows in the tab title. Turn on the sound if you want a short chime when each round ends. Keep this page open while you work: if you close it, the timer stops.
Do the times have to be 25 and 5?
No. The 25-minute round is simply what Francesco Cirillo, who created the method in the late 1980s, found worked for him. Many people prefer 45 or 50 minutes for deep work, or 15 minutes for a task they’ve been avoiding. What matters most is working on one thing at a time and taking real breaks.
Read the full guide: The Pomodoro Technique: how it works and who it suits. If you have more tasks than time, our guide to the Eisenhower matrix can help you choose what to work on first.
Sources and further reading
- Cirillo, F. (2018). The Pomodoro Technique: The Life-Changing Time-Management System. Virgin Books.
- Albulescu, P. et al. (2022). “Give me a break!” A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of micro-breaks for increasing well-being and performance. PLOS ONE, 17(8), e0272460.
Read the full article
The Pomodoro Technique: How It Works and Who It Suits
Twenty-five minutes of focus, then a five-minute break. The Pomodoro Technique is one of the world’s most popular ways to get work done. Here’s where it came from, what research says about timed breaks, and how to adapt it to your own day.