Study timer

Why study with a timer?

A fixed block turns "study tonight" into something you can start: one subject, one task, 25 minutes. When the timer rings you stop, rest and go again, instead of drifting between reading, messages and videos.

The breaks are part of the method. A short break after each block and a longer one after four keep a long evening of revision from blurring together. Counting finished sessions also gives you an honest record of how much you studied.

How do you study with the Pomodoro method?

Pick one study task, work on it for 25 minutes, rest for 5 and repeat. After four rounds, take a longer break.

1. Pick one subject and one task. Not "biology" but "chapter 4 summary" or "ten practice questions". Type it in the label field.
2. Get your materials ready. Open the notes, textbook or PDF you need and close everything else. Put your phone out of sight.
3. Study for 25 minutes. Press Start and stay on that task until the timer rings. If you remember something else, write it down for later.
4. Take a 5-minute break. Stand up, drink water and look away from the screen. Skip the feeds; they rarely stay at five minutes.
5. Repeat, with a long break after four. After four study sessions, rest for 15 to 30 minutes, then start the next round or switch subjects.

Which study timer settings work best?

Start with 25/5. Move to longer blocks when the task needs time to get into, and back to 25 when you are tired or starting is hard.

Custom accepts focus lengths from 1 to 180 minutes and breaks from 1 to 60. For a longer rhythm, see the 52/17 rule.

How do you use this study timer?

Type the subject, press Start, and let the timer run the study block, the break and the long break.

• Type the subject or task in the label field before each session. Your last four labels show up as quick picks, so switching subjects takes one tap.
• Turn on auto-start for back-to-back rounds, or leave it off and start each one yourself.
• Pick a background sound such as rain or a river. In a library, set the phase sound to Silent.
• Turn on Notify to get a browser notification when a block ends while you read in another tab.
• Press F for zen mode, a full-screen view with just the time and the pause button.

How do you track your study hours?

The stats under the timer add up every study session for today, this week and this month, with a chart and a breakdown by the labels you typed.

• "What you focused on" shows study time per subject, so you can see when one class is getting all the attention.
• Set a daily goal in study hours, starting at 2 hours, and a weekly goal, starting at 10 hours.
• Day streak counts the days in a row with at least one completed session, a small reason to open the books on a slow day.
• Your data stays in this browser on this device. Use Export JSON to keep a copy.

How do you get more out of each study session?

Plan the task, remove the easy exits and test yourself instead of rereading. The timer keeps the time; these habits make it count.

• Write the task as an action: "solve six problems", "summarize section 2", "learn 20 terms".
• Test yourself with questions or flashcards instead of rereading the same page.
• Keep a "later" note for things to look up, and check it in the break.
• Switch subjects after a long break when your attention on one has worn thin.
• Stop at a long break when you are tired. Tomorrow's first round will go better with a clear head.

More tools for school: the best study apps for Mac and the Mac focus app workflow for students. Prefer longer blocks? The focus timer starts at 50/10, and the classic Pomodoro timer explains the method in full.