The pomodoro technique: focus in 25-minute blocks
2026-11-07
How the pomodoro technique alternates 25 minutes of focus with short breaks, how to pair it with a task list, and how to set up the timer.
What the pomodoro technique is
The pomodoro technique is a time-management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. You work with full focus for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After four of these cycles you take a longer break. The name comes from the tomato-shaped kitchen timer he used.
Why 25 minutes?
25 minutes is short enough to start a task without dread, and long enough to settle into focus. The method is less about the exact number than about the frame: focused blocks separated by real breaks.
How to use the timer
1. Choose one task from today’s list. If it is too big, split it into smaller parts.
2. Start the timer and work only on that task for 25 minutes. Close chats and notifications.
3. When the timer ends, take a 5-minute break. Step away from the screen and move a little.
4. After four focus sessions, take a 15-minute longer break. The timer tells you when it is time.
Pair it with a task list
Write today’s tasks in the list beside the timer. After each session you can see at a glance what you finished. Aiming to finish one task per session builds a steady sense of progress.
Seeing how many sessions you completed
The count of completed focus sessions is saved in your browser, so it continues if you reopen the page on the same day. Looking at the number helps you gauge a day’s workload. The count is stored per device, so another device starts from zero.
When it does not work well
- If 25 minutes feels too long, start with 15 or 20 minutes and build up.
- When unrelated thoughts keep coming up during a session, write them on paper and go back to the task.
- If you start scrolling your phone during breaks, the break becomes too long. A short walk is the best break.
- If you cannot hear the sound in your environment, check the screen from time to time.