Set the timer to 25 seconds

How to use the online timer

Getting through a full plank hold feels endless without something to watch, so set 25 seconds and let the numbers do the work instead of your wobbling arms. Start the count the moment you're in position, breathe steadily, and resist checking your phone rather than the timer. It's a handy length for warm-ups, finishers, or squeezing a bit of core work into a short break at your desk.

It runs the moment you hit Start, no extra steps needed before the numbers begin moving. Because everything happens inside this browser tab, it needs to remain open while the clock runs; switching tabs is fine, but closing the page or turning off your screen partway through will stop the countdown. A sound marks the finish, so you'll know the moment it's done without having to watch it count down.

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 25 seconds, that works too — press Start and the page does the rest.