Pomodoro timer

How the Pomodoro technique works

The Pomodoro technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s and named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer he used (pomodoro is Italian for tomato). The idea is simple: pick one task, work on it with no interruptions until the timer rings, then take a short break.

The classic rhythm is 25 minutes of focus, a 5-minute break, repeated four times, followed by a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. Each 25-minute block is one "pomodoro". The short, fixed length makes it easy to start — you only have to commit to 25 minutes — and the breaks keep you from running on empty.

Using this timer

• Press Start (or the space bar). The focus phase counts down; when it ends a chime sounds and the break begins on its own — turn that off to start each phase by hand.
• After the set number of focus sessions (four by default) you get the long break instead of the short one.
• Skip jumps to the next phase; Reset returns to the first focus session.
• Pick a preset or set your own lengths. Longer blocks such as 50/10 or 90/20 suit deep work; shorter ones suit tasks you're putting off.
• Type what you're working on and it shows above the timer. Today's sessions and focus time are kept on this device only.

Make it fit you

The 25-minute length is a starting point, not a rule. If you find you've barely settled in when the timer rings, lengthen the focus block; if you can't hold attention for 25 minutes, shorten it. What matters is that the breaks are real breaks — away from the screen where you can — and that you finish or park the task before moving on.

Try a face that suits the mood: the visual-timer disc shows the time left as a shrinking wedge, the liquid timer drains like a glass, and a hourglass keeps things calm. For more control over the timing, use the countdown timer or track whole sessions with the study stopwatch.