Pomodoro Timer to Stay Focused
Start a 25-minute session, take a 5-minute breather, and enjoy a long break every 4 sessions: the timer paces your cycles, rings at each step and shows the time left in the browser tab.
- 25 / 5 / 15 min
- Adjustable durations
- Alarm and notifications
- Free
100% private — Everything is processed directly in your browser: your files, voice, and image are never sent to Chatzam's servers.
How to use the Pomodoro timer?
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Set the durations
Keep the classic settings, 25 minutes of work, a 5-minute short break and a 15-minute long break, or choose your own.
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Start the session
Click the button or press the Space bar, then focus on a single task until the alarm rings.
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Alternate work and breaks
A short break follows each session and a long break comes every 4 sessions; the counter shows how many you've completed.
Everything you need to keep the pace
Full cycles
Work, short break, a long break every 4 sessions, and a counter to keep track of your pomodoros for the day.
Alarm and notifications
A sound marks the end of each phase, and a notification pops up if you've allowed it, even when you're in another window.
Time left in the tab
The countdown shows in the tab title, and the timer keeps running while the tab is in the background.
Settings remembered
Your durations are saved in your browser. The Space bar starts or pauses the timer, no mouse needed.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
The Pomodoro Technique was created by Italian Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s; it's named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer, “pomodoro” in Italian, he used as a student. The idea is simple: work on a single task for 25 minutes without interruption, then take a 5-minute break. After 4 sessions, give yourself a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. A full cycle with the default settings lasts 4 × 25 + 3 × 5 + 15 = 130 minutes, which is 1 hour 40 minutes of real focus in 2 hours 10 minutes. Breaking your work up this way makes it easier to get started, limits fatigue and makes the time you spend visible.
Getting the most out of your pomodoros
Pick one task before you start the timer, and stick to it until the alarm rings. If an idea or the urge to check your messages pops up, jot it down on paper and come back to it during the break. During breaks, stand up, drink some water, look into the distance: staying at your screen scrolling through a feed isn't restful. The session counter also measures your day: 8 pomodoros already add up to 3 hours 20 minutes of focused work. With practice, you can estimate a task in pomodoros, say 3 for a report, and plan your week better.
Adjust the durations to your work
Cirillo's 25 minutes are a starting point, not a hard rule. For work that needs deep immersion, like writing or coding, many people prefer 50 minutes of work and 10 minutes of break. For studying for an exam, tackling a task you've been putting off or helping a child with homework, shorter sessions of 15 or 20 minutes make it easier to get going. All durations are adjustable and stay saved in your browser. Allow notifications so you're alerted even while working in another app. For a simple one-off countdown, use our “Online Timer” instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pomodoro?
It's a focused work session, 25 minutes by default, followed by a short break. The word means “tomato” in Italian, a nod to the kitchen timer used by the method's creator.
Why work for 25 minutes?
It's long enough to make real progress and short enough to stay focused without wearing yourself out. If that length doesn't suit you, change it: 50 minutes of work with a 10-minute break is a popular variant.
How many pomodoros should I do a day?
There's no rule: it depends on your work and your meetings. As a benchmark, 8 pomodoros of 25 minutes add up to 3 hours 20 minutes of pure focus, which already makes for a productive day.
Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes, it keeps running in the background. The time left shows in the tab title, an alarm rings at the end of each phase and a notification appears if you've allowed it.
Can I change the length of sessions and breaks?
Yes, the work, short break and long break durations are all adjustable. They're saved in your browser, so you'll find them again on your next visit.