How a Pomodoro session works
- Pick one task from your list, or add one, and press Start.
- Work on that task only until the alarm rings. If something else pops into your head, add it as a task instead of switching.
- Take the short break. Stand up, look away from the screen, get water.
- After four focus sessions, take a long break of 15 to 30 minutes, then start again at session 1.
The tabs on the board switch between focus, short break and long break. The line under the time counts your sessions ("Session 2 of 4"), and after the last one the next break is a long break. Breaks show on a green board, so you can tell at a glance which one is running.
Good for
- One Pomodoro: 25 minutes of single-task work
- Writing, coding or revision without checking messages
- A timed practice essay or exam question
- Cleaning or admin you keep putting off
- Language or instrument practice
- A focused reading session
Tips
- Decide on one task before you press Start, and write down anything that pops into your head instead of switching to it.
- After four sessions, take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.
- Use the space bar to pause if you are interrupted, then resume.
Questions and answers
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
A time-management method created by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s: work on one task for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and after four rounds take a longer break. "Pomodoro" is Italian for tomato, after his tomato-shaped kitchen timer.
Where is my task list saved?
Only in this browser on this device. There is no account, so there is nothing to sign in to and nothing to lose at sign-in. Clearing your browser data deletes the list, so use "Copy as text" in the task menu if you want a copy.
Can the breaks start by themselves?
Yes. Open Settings and turn on "Auto-start breaks". When a focus session ends, the alarm rings and the break starts after a 5-second countdown you can cancel. "Auto-start focus" does the same after a break. Both are off until you turn them on.
Can I change the lengths?
Yes. In Settings, set focus, short break and long break in minutes, and how many sessions come before the long break. The defaults are 25, 5 and 15 minutes, with a long break after 4 sessions.
Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. TimerNook works out the time left from your device clock and a fixed end time, not by counting ticks, so a background tab is still right. While a timer runs, the page also plays a tone too quiet to hear, so the browser keeps the tab awake; your browser may show a speaker icon on the tab. If you also tick "Notify me", you get a system notification at the end.
Will the alarm ring if my phone screen locks?
Not always. Phone browsers can pause web pages when the screen locks, and an iPhone on silent can mute browser sound. Keep the screen on; while the timer runs TimerNook asks the browser to keep the screen awake where that is supported. If the page was paused, the alarm rings as soon as you return.