25 minute timer
Press Start. It counts down in this tab and beeps when the 25 minutes are up.
Space starts and pauses. Keep this tab open for the sound.
SHORT VERSION
- Press Start above. It runs 25 minutes, shows the time in the tab title and beeps at the end.
- Pick one task before you start. Cut it small enough to see progress in 25 minutes.
- Take the 5 minute break. After four blocks, take 15 to 30 minutes off.
- Two blocks an hour is the most you will get. Plan the day around that.
What to do with 25 minutes
One task, start to stop. Pick it before you press Start, so the first minute goes to work and not to choosing.
Clear the inbox
Reply to the five emails you keep skipping. Stop when it rings, even mid-thread.
Write the first draft
A proposal, a post, a report. Twenty-five minutes is enough to get past the blank page.
Study one topic
One chapter or one set of problems. Then a real break before the next one.
Prep for a call
Read the last notes, list what you need to ask, and write the one outcome you want.
Tidy your to-do list
Close what is done, drop what no longer matters, pick tomorrow's three.
Plan the week
Put the big tasks on the calendar before the meetings take the time.
25 minutes, tied to a task
A timer on its own does not know what you are working on. In SayBriefly, the focus timer runs on tasks you pick from your to-do list, and that list fills itself from your calls, email and projects.
Pick from your list
Choose the tasks for this round. They sit next to the clock while it runs.
25, 5 and 15
Focus for 25 minutes, then a 5 minute break, and a 15 minute break when you need a longer one.
Check it off there
Tick a task on the focus card and it is done on your to-do list too.
Who a 25 minute timer is for
Freelancers
Client work comes in pieces. A 25 minute block fits between calls and still moves one thing forward.
Students
Short enough to start on a bad day. For longer blocks and a session count, use the study timer.
Team and studio leads
Your day is meetings. Two protected 25 minute blocks can be all the deep work you get, so they need a plan.
What 25 minutes adds up to
One pomodoro is 25 minutes of work plus a 5 minute break, so 30 minutes in total. That makes the math easy:
| Time you have | 25 minute blocks | Real focus time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 2 | 50 minutes |
| 2 hours | 4, then a 15 minute long break | 1 hour 40 minutes |
| Half a day (4 hours) | 7 or 8 | About 3 hours |
| Full work day (8 hours) | 10 to 12, around meetings | 4 to 5 hours |
Four to five hours of real focus in a day is a lot. Most people who count honestly find they do less.
A sample day in 25 minute blocks
Here is a freelance designer's Wednesday with two client calls. The blocks go in the gaps, and each one has a single job written next to it before the day starts.
Eight blocks is 3 hours and 20 minutes of focus on a day with two calls. Notice blocks 4 and 5: a block before a call to prepare and a block right after to send the follow-up. That is where most client work slips.
A sample week for a studio lead
A studio lead with meetings most afternoons can still protect two blocks every morning. Ten blocks a week is a bit over four hours of focused work that would otherwise vanish.
| Day | Block 1 (9:00) | Block 2 (9:30) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Plan the week, check every project's next step | Review work due this week |
| Tuesday | Write the proposal for the new lead | Finish the proposal and send it |
| Wednesday | Feedback on the team's designs | Client update emails |
| Thursday | Hiring or process work | Budget and invoices |
| Friday | Close open loops from the week's calls | Plan next Monday's first block |
Copy this 25 minute block template
Fill it in before you press Start. It takes a minute and saves the first five of the block.
25 MINUTE BLOCK Task (one only): ______________________ Done looks like: ______________________ Open before starting: _________________ Close before starting: email, chat, phone After the timer rings: Finished? yes / no If no, next step is: __________________ Blocks today: [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
Common mistakes with a 25 minute timer
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Picking the task after pressing Start | Write the one task first, then start |
| A task too big for 25 minutes | Cut it down to the next visible step, like "outline" not "write report" |
| Answering a message mid-block | Write it on paper and reply in the break |
| Skipping the 5 minute break | Tick the break option so it starts on its own |
| Stopping at the first ring | If you are in flow, reset and run another block, then take a longer break |
| No plan for the next block | Use the last minute of each block to name the next one |
Twenty-five minutes works when the task is picked and the phone is away. The timer does the rest.
25 minutes or a different length?
| Length | Best for | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| 25 / 5 | Starting hard tasks, email, admin, reading | This page |
| 50 / 10 | Design, writing, coding that needs a warm up | Study timer presets |
| 90 / 20 | Deep work and long drafts | Study timer presets |
| Full cycle | Four rounds with a long break | Pomodoro timer |
To plan where the blocks go in your week, see the time blocking guide and the to-do list planner. For the method itself, read the pomodoro technique for studying.
How to set a timer for 25 minutes
- On this page: press Start at the top. It is already set to 25 minutes, and it beeps at the end.
- On a phone: ask your voice assistant to "set a timer for 25 minutes", or open the Clock app and pick 25 minutes.
- On a Mac: recent versions of macOS have a timer in the Clock app. Or keep this tab open, the countdown shows in the tab title.
- For a full pomodoro cycle: use our pomodoro timer for rounds and breaks, or the pomodoro to-do list to count rounds per task.
Questions people ask
How do I set a timer for 25 minutes?
Press Start on the timer at the top of this page. It is already set to 25 minutes. It counts down in the tab title and plays a sound when time is up. You can also ask your phone's voice assistant to set a timer for 25 minutes.
Why 25 minutes?
Twenty-five minutes is the classic length of one pomodoro, from the Pomodoro Technique created by Francesco Cirillo. It is long enough to get real work done and short enough that starting feels easy. Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5 minute break.
Will the timer make a sound when it ends?
Yes. When the 25 minutes are up it plays three short beeps. You can turn the sound off with the switch under the timer. Your choice is saved in this browser.
Does it keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. The timer counts from the clock, not from the page, so it stays correct in a background tab. The time left shows in the tab title so you can glance at it.
Can I take a 5 minute break after the 25 minutes?
Yes. Tick "Start a 5 minute break when it ends" and the break starts on its own. You can also switch to the 5 minute break at any time with the button above the clock.
Is a 25 minute timer the same as a pomodoro timer?
Close. A pomodoro timer runs 25 minute rounds with short breaks in a cycle, and a long break after four rounds. For the full cycle with tasks, use our pomodoro timer or the pomodoro to-do list.
Does this timer work on a phone?
Yes. It runs in any modern browser on a phone, tablet or computer. Keep the tab open so the sound can play at the end.
How many 25 minute sessions should I do a day?
Most people do well with 8 to 12 on a full work day, or 4 to 6 on a study day. That is roughly 3 to 5 hours of real focus. More than that and the later blocks get slow.
What is the 25 minute rule?
It is another name for working in 25 minute blocks: commit to one task for 25 minutes, then stop and rest for 5. The small commitment makes it easier to start work you have been putting off.
Can I use this as a 25 minute study timer?
Yes. Press Start and study one topic until it rings. If you want 50 or 90 minute blocks and a count of today's sessions, use the study timer page.
Is there a 25 minute timer app?
This page works like an app in any browser on Mac, Windows, a phone or a tablet, with nothing to install. If you want the timer tied to a task list on your desktop, the SayBriefly focus timer on Mac and Windows does that.
What if I am in flow when the 25 minutes end?
Finish your sentence, note the next step, and take the break anyway if you can. If the work really cannot stop, reset and run one more block, then take a longer break after it.
What is the SayBriefly focus timer?
SayBriefly is an app for Mac and Windows where calls, email, tasks and your calendar share one memory. Its focus timer runs on tasks you pick from your to-do list, with 25 minute focus rounds and 5 or 15 minute breaks.
It's 4pm on a Friday. The brief is locked, the client is happy, and Scribbble already sent the meeting recap. You close the laptop.
That's the point.
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Twenty-five minutes.
On the task that matters.
Calls, email and projects feed one list.
Press play on any task.
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