Set the timer to 13 minutes

How to use the online timer

Stepping outside for 13 minutes in the middle of a long stretch at your desk does more for your focus than another coffee. Set the timer, get outside if you can, and use the time to move rather than scrolling on your phone. When it finishes, you get back to the desk with a clearer head, and the walk feels less like procrastination when there's a defined end point.

There's no setup beyond pressing Start, and the countdown handles the rest on its own from that point. Since it runs inside the browser, keep the tab open for the timer to keep an accurate count; you can switch to other tabs in the meantime, but closing this one out resets things. When the countdown hits zero, a sound plays so you're not stuck staring at the numbers.

Unlike a mechanical kitchen timer, this one doesn't need winding, batteries, or a spot on the bench where you'll remember to look at it. It sits in a browser tab, which means you can check it from your laptop, your phone, or any device with a browser without owning a gadget for it. Minimise the window and it keeps counting; just don't close the tab. If you would rather say put a timer on for 13 minutes, that works too — press Start and the page does the rest.