How to use the online timer
Twenty-five minutes is the classic single block of deep, uninterrupted focus popularised by the Pomodoro technique, though the number itself matters less than the principle behind it — a defined stretch of time with no phone, no notifications, and no switching between tasks, followed by a proper break rather than just petering out. It suits detailed, effortful work better than a vague, all-day mandate to "focus."
What happens in the minute before the block starts often decides how the whole twenty-five minutes goes. Notifications silenced, the specific task decided in advance, and any obvious distractions physically out of reach all matter more than willpower alone once the timer's actually running.
If concentration drifts partway through, that's normal rather than a sign the technique has failed — noticing the drift and gently returning to the task, rather than abandoning the block altogether, is most of what focus training actually is. A short, genuine break at the end of the block, away from the screen if the work involved one, matters as much as the focused period itself for being able to do it again.
Common questions
What should I do if my mind wanders during the twenty-five minutes?
Notice the drift and gently return to the task rather than treating it as a failed session — a wandering mind is normal and part of what the practice trains.
Should my break involve checking my phone?
Better not to — stepping physically away from screens tends to refresh focus more than switching to a different kind of screen time during the break.
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