Pomodoro Timer

How does the Pomodoro Technique work?

The Pomodoro Technique divides work into 25-minute focused intervals separated by 5-minute short breaks. After four intervals, you take a longer 15–30 minute break. Each interval should focus on a single, defined task without interruption. The technique is backed by research on the vigilance decrement — the measurable drop in attention that occurs after 20–25 minutes of sustained focus.

Can I change the timer duration?

Yes. Click "Customise intervals" to adjust focus duration (5–90 min), short break (1–30 min), and long break (5–60 min). The default 25/5/15 structure works for most people, but 50/10 works well for deep creative work and 15/3 helps when building attention capacity from scratch.

What should I do during Pomodoro breaks?

Short breaks should involve genuine cognitive rest — stand up, stretch, walk briefly, or look at something distant. Avoid screens and social media, which make it harder to re-engage. Use 3 minutes of each break for flashcard review to add built-in spaced repetition without extra study time.

How many Pomodoros should I do per day?

Most students can sustain 6–8 high-quality Pomodoros per day (2.5–3.5 hours of deep focus). Starting with 4 per day and building up gradually produces better long-term results than trying to do 10–12 from the start. Treat a consistent 4-Pomodoro day as more valuable than an inconsistent 8-Pomodoro one.