Pomodoro Timer
No rounds done yet today
The timer counts minutes. The harder question is what to study in each round, and when. Focusity books your study sessions into your free hours, around your lectures and exams, and has a built-in Pomodoro timer for every round.
Build my plan, freeHow to use the timer
- Pick a rhythm. 25/5 for reading and notes, 50/10 for problem sets and writing, or your own.
- Pick one task. Not "study statistics", but "problem 3" or "summarize chapter two".
- Press start, and put your phone in another room. A thought that pops up goes on a scrap of paper.
- Stop at the sound. Get up, drink something, look outside, and go back to the same task after the break.
- After four rounds the timer switches to a long break. The dots under the clock show where you are in the cycle.
The space bar starts and pauses the timer, and the time left shows in the tab title, so you can work in another window and still see it. For the method itself, and what research found about it, see our guide to the Pomodoro technique.
How long for each kind of work
25 minutes is a starting point, not a rule. Here are starting points by kind of work; calibrate the exact numbers to what works for you:
| Kind of work | Study | Break |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and summarizing | 25 minutes | 5 minutes |
| Problem sets and proofs | 45 to 50 minutes | 10 minutes |
| Flashcard review | 15 to 20 minutes | 3 to 5 minutes |
| Writing a paper | 50 minutes | 10 minutes |
The rule is to stop just before your focus breaks. If you keep rereading the same line, the round is too long, and if the sound comes just as you get going, it is too short.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Pomodoro timer?
A timer that splits studying into rounds: 25 minutes of focus with no interruptions, a 5-minute break, and a long break after four rounds. The timer moves between the phases for you and plays a sound at the end of each one, so you never have to watch the clock.
How long should I set the timer for?
25 minutes of focus and a 5-minute break suit reading and summarizing, and days when starting is hard. For problem sets, proofs and writing, 50 minutes and a 10-minute break usually fit better, because it takes a while to get into it. If no rhythm fits, choose custom.
Does the timer keep running in a background tab?
Yes. Time is counted against your device's clock rather than the tab, so it doesn't fall behind when you switch windows, and the time left shows in the tab title. On a phone, the browser may silence the sound once the screen turns off, so you can ask the timer to keep the screen on.
Do I need to sign up? What is saved?
No sign-up. The timer runs entirely in your browser, and your settings and today's round count are kept only in the browser's local storage, so a refresh doesn't lose them. Nothing is sent to our server.
Is there a Pomodoro timer in the app?
Yes. The Focusity app has a built-in Pomodoro timer that defaults to 25 minutes of study, a 5-minute break and a 15-minute long break. The app's study planner also books your study sessions into your free hours, so each round has a task.
A timer, and a plan around it
Focusity builds your study sessions into your free hours, splits them into rounds and gives you a Pomodoro timer for each one. Free on iPhone, Android and the web.
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