25 minute timer
Press Start. It counts down in this tab and beeps when the 25 minutes are up.
Space starts and pauses. Keep this tab open for the sound.
What to do with 25 minutes
One task, start to stop. Pick it before you press Start, so the first minute goes to work and not to choosing.
Clear the inbox
Reply to the five emails you keep skipping. Stop when it rings, even mid-thread.
Write the first draft
A proposal, a post, a report. Twenty-five minutes is enough to get past the blank page.
Study one topic
One chapter or one set of problems. Then a real break before the next one.
Prep for a call
Read the last notes, list what you need to ask, and write the one outcome you want.
Tidy your to-do list
Close what is done, drop what no longer matters, pick tomorrow's three.
Plan the week
Put the big tasks on the calendar before the meetings take the time.
25 minutes, tied to a task
A timer on its own does not know what you are working on. In SayBriefly, the focus timer runs on tasks you pick from your to-do list, and that list fills itself from your calls, email and projects.
Pick from your list
Choose the tasks for this round. They sit next to the clock while it runs.
25, 5 and 15
Focus for 25 minutes, then a 5 minute break, and a 15 minute break when you need a longer one.
Check it off there
Tick a task on the focus card and it is done on your to-do list too.
How to set a timer for 25 minutes
- On this page: press Start at the top. It is already set to 25 minutes, and it beeps at the end.
- On a phone: ask your voice assistant to "set a timer for 25 minutes", or open the Clock app and pick 25 minutes.
- On a Mac: recent versions of macOS have a timer in the Clock app. Or keep this tab open, the countdown shows in the tab title.
- For a full pomodoro cycle: use our pomodoro timer for rounds and breaks, or the pomodoro to-do list to count rounds per task.
Questions people ask
How do I set a timer for 25 minutes?
Press Start on the timer at the top of this page. It is already set to 25 minutes. It counts down in the tab title and plays a sound when time is up. You can also ask your phone's voice assistant to set a timer for 25 minutes.
Why 25 minutes?
Twenty-five minutes is the classic length of one pomodoro, from the Pomodoro Technique created by Francesco Cirillo. It is long enough to get real work done and short enough that starting feels easy. Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5 minute break.
Will the timer make a sound when it ends?
Yes. When the 25 minutes are up it plays three short beeps. You can turn the sound off with the switch under the timer. Your choice is saved in this browser.
Does it keep running if I switch tabs?
Yes. The timer counts from the clock, not from the page, so it stays correct in a background tab. The time left shows in the tab title so you can glance at it.
Can I take a 5 minute break after the 25 minutes?
Yes. Tick "Start a 5 minute break when it ends" and the break starts on its own. You can also switch to the 5 minute break at any time with the button above the clock.
Is a 25 minute timer the same as a pomodoro timer?
Close. A pomodoro timer runs 25 minute rounds with short breaks in a cycle, and a long break after four rounds. For the full cycle with tasks, use our pomodoro timer or the pomodoro to-do list.
Does this timer work on a phone?
Yes. It runs in any modern browser on a phone, tablet or computer. Keep the tab open so the sound can play at the end.
What is the SayBriefly focus timer?
SayBriefly is an app for Mac and Windows where calls, email, tasks and your calendar share one memory. Its focus timer runs on tasks you pick from your to-do list, with 25 minute focus rounds and 5 or 15 minute breaks.
It's 4pm on a Friday. The brief is locked, the client is happy, and Scribbble already sent the meeting recap. You close the laptop.
That's the point.
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Twenty-five minutes.
On the task that matters.
Calls, email and projects feed one list.
Press play on any task.
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