How to use the Pomodoro timer
- Write down what you’re working on, then press Start or the space bar. Work on that one thing until the sound plays.
- Take the short break when it comes up. Stand, stretch or get a drink, and stay away from the task.
- After four focus sessions you get a long break. Change the lengths or turn on auto-start under Settings.
Why it works
A 25 minute session is short enough to start without much willpower and long enough to get real work done. Knowing a break is coming makes it easier to ignore messages until then, and the breaks stop long stretches of work from wearing you out.
The timer only helps if you protect the session. Close the tabs you don’t need, put your phone out of reach and pick one task before you press Start. If something else comes to mind, write it down and get back to the task.
Making it fit your day
- Short tasks: group small jobs such as email or tidying into one session.
- Deep work: try 50 minutes of focus with 10 minute breaks once 25 feels easy.
- Studying: use the breaks to look away from the screen and recall what you just read.
- Counting: the number of sessions you finish each day is shown under the timer, which is a useful way to see how much focused time you really get.