Last updated 23 August 2026
How the cycle works
Four focus sessions, each followed by a short break — except the fourth, which is followed by a longer break before the cycle count resets. The idea is to protect focus time by making the breaks predictable rather than open-ended, so stepping away doesn't turn into losing the thread of what you were doing.
Where the twenty-five minutes came from
The technique was named after a tomato-shaped kitchen timer its inventor used as a student in the late 1980s. The interval is arbitrary; what matters is that it is short enough to start without dread and long enough to get somewhere. Twenty-five minutes is simply the length that turned out to work for most people.
The break is the part most often skipped, and it is doing real work. Stopping at a fixed point stops you from burning through your attention in one long stretch, and returning to a task you deliberately paused is easier than returning to one you abandoned when you ran out of energy.
Treat the interruption rule seriously too. If something comes up mid-session, note it down and deal with it in the break rather than switching straight away. That habit, more than the timer itself, is what the method is really teaching.
Common questions
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
A time-management method of working in focused intervals — traditionally 25 minutes — followed by a short break, with a longer break after every four intervals. The structure is designed to make sustained focus easier by breaking work into clearly bounded chunks.
Does the timer keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes, it keeps counting in the background. The beep still plays when a session ends, even if this isn't the active tab.
Can I change the interval lengths?
Yes — work, short break and long break durations are all editable. Changes apply the next time you reset or start a fresh cycle.