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Break Timer

A free work and break timer for any task. Pick a rhythm, press Start and work until the bell: the break starts by itself, so you stop on time without watching the clock.

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Ready · 25-minute focus

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Focus

Tip: spend the break away from screens.

01 Why breaks

Why take breaks on a timer?

Few people stop on their own. We stop when a meeting starts or a message pings, and on a busy day that can be hours later. A work break timer puts the stop into the plan: you choose the rhythm once, and the bell tells you when to look up.

The break can be simple. Rest your eyes on something far away, stand up, stretch your back and shoulders, refill your water. When you sit down again, the next block has a clear end, and that makes it easier to start.

Prefer to choose when to rest? The focus timer rings at the end of one block and leaves the break to you.

02 How to

How to use the break timer

  1. Pick a rhythm

    Choose 25 · 5, 50 · 10 or 90 · 15: minutes of work, then minutes of rest. Custom in the settings sets your own lengths.

  2. Press Start, or hit Space

    Work until the bell. The tab title shows the time left, and full screen (F) hides everything but the clock. For a single countdown you can read across a room, open the fullscreen timer.

  3. Take the break

    When the bell rings, the break starts by itself: that’s your break reminder. Stand up and look away from the screen. Every fourth break is a long one.

  4. Start the next block

    When the break ends, the bell rings again and the timer waits. Press Start when you’re back, or turn on Auto-start focus in the settings.

03 FAQ

Questions about timed breaks

What is a break timer?

A timer that takes turns between work and rest: it counts down a block of work, rings, then counts down your break. This one runs the same cycle as our Pomodoro study timer, with a long break after every fourth block.

How long should work blocks and breaks be?

25 minutes of work and a 5-minute break is the classic. 50 · 10 suits most desk work, and 90 · 15 fits writing or code. Try one rhythm for a few days, then compare.

Does it ring in a background tab?

Yes. It counts from the moment you press Start, so the time stays right in a background tab, and the bell rings after each block and each break. On a phone, keep the page open: the bell may come late, but the time stays correct.

Can I follow the 20-20-20 rule with it?

Yes, in whole minutes. The rule says to look at something about 20 feet away every 20 minutes. Choose Custom and set 20 minutes of work and a 1-minute break: a minute for your eyes.

Is the break timer online and free?

Yes. It runs in your browser with no account, no ads and nothing to install. Add it to your home screen to open it like an app, even offline.

Does it keep a log of my work?

Yes. Each finished work block goes to the same log as the other timers on the site, and a subject is optional. Open the study log to see your hours by day and week.

04 Contents

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