Work / Break Timer
Focused work blocks with automatic breaks and an audible alarm.
A browser tab is not a reliable clock, and this is not a time record. The deadline is computed from a timestamp, but the countdown and the end-of-phase alarm only fire when the tab gets a timer callback, and a backgrounded tab is throttled to roughly one per minute. Expect a late alarm if you switch away, and no alarm at all if the machine sleeps. Only your durations are saved, in this browser, and clearing site data clears them. Provided as-is, without warranty, and used at your own risk. The site-wide notice carries the full terms.
- Durations accept very small values (e.g., 0.05 minutes). The timer resolves durations to the nearest second.
- Apply durations updates the current phase duration when paused (to avoid mid-count surprises).
- Auto-start is enabled by default: phases will roll over automatically and keep running.
- Skip always advances phases:
- Skipping during WORK can optionally increment Completed (“Count Work on Skip”).
- Skipping during BREAK simply jumps to WORK.
Keyboard shortcuts
- Space Start / Pause
- R Reset
- N Skip
- S Stop alarm
Long, uninterrupted “time-on-task” tends to produce a vigilance decrement—performance and attention drift as you grind. Short, structured interruptions can help reset task goals and reduce this drop-off.
What this timer is doing
- Protects deep focus: you commit to a bounded window where the only job is to stay on-task.
- Forces micro-recovery: breaks are short enough to avoid context loss, but long enough to reduce fatigue.
- Encourages spacing: splitting effort into multiple episodes is associated with better long-term retention for learning tasks.
Practical guidance
- If your work is cognitively heavy, start with 25–35 minute work blocks.
- If you’re already in flow, try 45–55 minutes with 8–12 minute breaks.
- Use the long break every 3–5 work sessions to avoid cumulative fatigue.
References (for the curious)
| Ref | What it supports | Source |
|---|---|---|
| [R1] | Distributed/“spaced” practice advantage across many experiments | Cepeda et al., 2006 (meta-analysis) — PubMed: 16719566 |
| [R2] | Brief mental breaks can reduce vigilance decrement in sustained tasks | Ariga & Lleras, 2011 — PubMed: 21211793 |
| [R3] | Review of vigilance decrement and enhancement techniques | Al-Shargie et al., 2019 — PMC: PMC6721323 |
| [R4] | Rest/task interruptions as a benefit to vigilance performance | Helton & Russell, 2015 — Cognition (abstract): S0010027714001929 |
| [R5] | Spacing guidance for learning in educational contexts | Carpenter, 2012 (ERIC PDF): ED536925 |