How to use the online timer
A custom work-and-break split lets the classic Pomodoro rhythm bend to the task rather than the other way around — twenty-five and five suits quick, easily-interrupted work, while a longer split like fifty and ten, or even ninety and fifteen, suits deep, hard-to-restart tasks like writing or design where getting back into flow after a break takes real time.
The two numbers that matter are the ratio between work and break, and whether that ratio actually gets you back to the task refreshed rather than reluctant. A break that's too short leaves fatigue building across rounds; one that's too long makes it genuinely hard to re-enter focus once it's over, so the right split is usually found by adjusting after a session or two rather than guessing it perfectly upfront.
Whatever the split, the underlying principle stays the same: full, protected attention during the work period, and a genuine step away from the task during the break, not a shorter version of the same screen time. Testing a custom ratio across a few real sessions, rather than a single one, gives a much better sense of whether it's actually working for the kind of task at hand.
Common questions
How do I pick the right split for my own work?
Match it to how quickly you can re-enter focus after a break — quick, interruptible tasks suit a shorter split, while deep tasks that take time to restart suit a longer one.
Should breaks always be proportional to the work period?
Not strictly, but the break should be enough to genuinely refresh you without making it hard to re-enter focus once it's over — that balance is usually found through trial.
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