How to set a timer
- Pick a preset such as 5 or 10 minutes, or type hours, minutes and seconds.
- Press Start or the space bar. The time left also shows in the tab title, so you can switch to other tabs.
- When time is up the alarm rings until you press Stop alarm or the space bar, or for a minute. Choose the sound and volume under the buttons, and press Test sound to hear it first.
Quick timers
Use the presets for common lengths: 1 minute for a quick break or a plank, 3 minutes for a soft-boiled egg or tea, 5 and 10 minutes for short tasks and kids’ turns, 15 and 30 minutes for focused work, and 1 hour for longer study sessions or cooking.
Working in short blocks
A popular way to focus is the Pomodoro technique: 25 minutes of work, then a 5-minute break, with a longer break after four rounds. Type 25 minutes into the timer, start it, and work on one thing until the alarm rings.