How to Use the Pomodoro Technique
Work in 25-minute blocks with a short break after each and a longer one after four. Here is how to set it up and keep it going.
What it is
The Pomodoro Technique is a way of working in short, timed blocks. Francesco Cirillo created it in the 1980s as a university student who could not focus on his studies, using a tomato-shaped kitchen timer ("pomodoro" is Italian for tomato), as he describes on the technique's official site (pomodorotechnique.com, read 10 November 2026). Each block of focused work is one "pomodoro", and the popular version uses 25 minutes. Cirillo himself stresses that the method is about attention and planning, not about forcing yourself into 25-minute chunks.
The steps
- Pick one task and write it down.
- Start a 25-minute timer and work only on that task.
- If something else comes up, note it and go back to the task.
- When the timer rings, take a short break; 5 minutes is the common choice.
- After four pomodoros, take a longer break; 15 to 30 minutes is the common choice.
The break lengths above are the widely used convention, not a rule from the official site, so adjust them to what keeps you fresh.
One round, minute by minute
Four pomodoros with short breaks and a 15-minute long break take exactly 2 hours 10 minutes:
| Block | Length | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pomodoro 1 | 25 min | 00:00 | 25:00 |
| Short break | 5 min | 25:00 | 30:00 |
| Pomodoro 2 | 25 min | 30:00 | 55:00 |
| Short break | 5 min | 55:00 | 1:00:00 |
| Pomodoro 3 | 25 min | 1:00:00 | 1:25:00 |
| Short break | 5 min | 1:25:00 | 1:30:00 |
| Pomodoro 4 | 25 min | 1:30:00 | 1:55:00 |
| Long break | 15 min | 1:55:00 | 2:10:00 |
Running it on TimerNook
The Pomodoro timer has Focus, Short break and Long break modes on the board, counts your sessions (1 of 4, 2 of 4…), and can start the break and the next focus block on its own if you turn on auto-start in Settings. A task list beside the timer keeps your tasks in this browser, with an estimate and a tick for each pomodoro. If you work in another tab, turn on "Show time left in the tab title" and the minutes stay visible; turn on notifications if you want a system alert at the end. Need a different length? Change the focus and break minutes in Settings, or use the 50 minute timer for longer deep-work blocks.
Common problems
- Interruptions: write them on the task list and deal with them in the break.
- Missing the alarm: choose a louder sound, keep the tab title on, and allow notifications.
- Breaks that run long: turn on auto-start so the next focus block begins on time.
- 25 minutes feels too short for deep work: try 50 minutes of focus with a 10-minute break, and keep the rhythm.
Timers for this guide
Questions and answers
Who invented the Pomodoro Technique?
Francesco Cirillo, in the 1980s, while he was a university student. He named it after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer he used.
How long is a pomodoro?
The popular version is 25 minutes of focused work. Cirillo describes 25 minutes as the common form, and many people adjust it.
How long are the breaks?
The common convention is a 5-minute short break after each pomodoro and a 15 to 30 minute long break after four. The official pages read for this guide do not give break lengths, so treat these as a starting point.