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Focus Timer
Pick one block, name the task, press Start and work on nothing else until the alarm.
45 minutes
Spacestart / pauseRresetFfull screen+ −add or remove a minute0–9type a time
Short enough to start a task you have been avoiding. Promise yourself only this one block.
The everyday block: long enough to finish something, short enough to hold without a pause.
A full hour for writing, coding or analysis once you are already warmed up.
Deep work on one hard problem. Plan a real break of 15 to 20 minutes afterwards.
Which focus block for which task
| Block | Use it for | Break afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| 25 min | Starting something you keep postponing, email triage, admin | 5 min |
| 45 min | Most desk work: a report section, a bug, a slide deck | 10 min |
| 60 min | Writing, coding, analysis that needs a run-up | 10–15 min |
| 90 min | One demanding problem with nothing else scheduled | 15–20 min |
The break lengths are common pairings, not rules. If you stop concentrating well before the alarm on two days running, drop to the next block down.
How to use it
- Tap a block: 25, 45, 60 or 90 minutes. The steppers set any other length.
- Type the task into the label box above the digits. The name appears in the browser tab and later on the History page, so you can see what each block went to.
- Choose a quiet alarm sound and tap “Notify me” if you will be working in another window. Close mail and chat.
- Press Start, then the full-screen button. The page becomes the clock and nothing else. Work on the named task until the alarm.
One block, no cycle
This is a work timer for a single stretch of concentration. There are no rounds to count and no break phase to manage: you choose the length, the countdown runs once, and it stops. That suits a meeting-free hour before lunch, a task with a clear finish, or a day too broken up for a fixed rhythm.
The Pomodoro timer does a different job. It alternates work and breaks on its own and counts your sessions for the day, which helps when you have a long open afternoon and need a structure to carry you through it. Use the focus timer when you have one block to protect. Use the Pomodoro timer when you have several hours and want the breaks scheduled for you.
Why naming the task matters
A block labeled “work” invites drifting between three things. A block labeled “draft the budget summary” gives you a test: you are either doing that or you are not. Write the name as an action with an object, small enough to make visible progress on in the time you chose.
Full screen works the same way for your eyes. With the tab bar, bookmarks and notification badges gone, the only thing on that display is how long is left. On a second monitor it also tells colleagues at a glance that you are busy until a set time.
Common mistakes
- Choosing 90 minutes on the first day. Long blocks are a skill; build up from 25 or 45 and move up when the alarm starts to surprise you.
- Leaving the task label empty. An unnamed block is easy to spend on whatever arrives in your inbox.
- Picking a loud alarm. A jarring sound at the end of an hour of concentration makes you dread the next block. A soft chime does the same job.
- Checking “one quick thing” mid-block. Keep a sheet of paper next to you, write the thought down and go back to the task.
- Starting the next block straight away. Stand up and take a few minutes first; the break timer can keep that honest.
Questions people ask
How long should a focus session be?
For most desk work, 45 to 60 minutes. Use 25 minutes to get started on a task you are avoiding and 90 minutes for deep work on one hard problem. The right length is the longest one you can finish without your attention wandering.
What is the difference between a focus timer and a Pomodoro timer?
A focus timer runs one block and stops. A Pomodoro timer repeats 25 minutes of work and 5 of rest in cycles, takes a longer break after four, and counts the sessions. Choose the first for a single protected block and the second for a long stretch you want structured.
Can I use it as a task timer for several tasks?
Yes. Rename the label before each block and start again. Each finished block is listed on the History page under the name you gave it, which gives you a simple record of where the day went.
Will I hear the alarm if I am working in another window?
The alarm sounds as long as the tab stays open, and the tab title shows the time left. Tap “Notify me” to also get a notification on your desktop when the block ends.
Is a 90-minute concentration timer too long?
Not for practiced deep work, but it is long for a first attempt. If you notice yourself rereading the same line around the 50-minute mark, use the 45 or 60 minute block and add a second one after a break.