50/10 Timer: 50 minutes focus, 10 minutes break
Focus
25:00The 50/10 method stretches the classic Pomodoro into longer blocks: 50 minutes of focused work followed by a 10-minute break. It is the rhythm many developers, writers and students preparing exams use once 25 minutes starts to feel too short. This timer is already set to 50/10, with a 30-minute break after every third session.
What is the 50/10 rule?
The 50/10 rule is a variation of the Pomodoro Technique. Instead of 25-minute sprints, you work for 50 minutes without interruption, then take a full 10-minute break. Over an hour you still spend more than 80% of your time working, but you get fewer, longer stretches of concentration.
The longer block matters for tasks with a slow ramp-up: writing, programming, design or solving complex problems. It usually takes 10 to 15 minutes to load a hard problem into your head. With 25-minute sessions, you barely reach full speed before the bell rings; with 50 minutes, you get a long stretch of real deep work.
How to use this 50/10 timer
- 1Choose one meaningful taskA chapter, a feature, a problem set. Add it to the task list and estimate it in 50-minute sessions.
- 2Press Start and silence everythingClose chat apps, put your phone in another room and let the timer handle the time.
- 3Take the full 10 minutesStand up, walk, stretch or drink water. Avoid scrolling: your eyes and brain need the rest.
- 4Rest 30 minutes after three sessionsThree 50/10 cycles is about two and a half hours of work. The long break keeps the afternoon productive.
25/5 or 50/10: which one should you choose?
Choose 25/5 when a task feels intimidating, when you are tired, or when your work is full of small interruptions. Short sessions make it easy to start and keep momentum. Choose 50/10 when you already have momentum and the task requires deep concentration, or when frequent breaks break your flow.
Many people mix both: 25/5 in the morning to get going, 50/10 for the big focused block of the day. You can switch presets in one click with the preset menu under the timer, or set your own durations in the settings.
- 50/10 is great for coding, writing, design, research and long study sessions.
- 25/5 is better for admin work, emails, revision with lots of small topics and low-energy days.
- If you often skip the 10-minute break, try 45/15 instead: the longer break is easier to respect.
Make the most of your 50-minute sessions
Write down the goal of each session before you start (for example, "finish the introduction" rather than "work on the essay"). A concrete target keeps the 50 minutes focused. Layer a steady ambient sound such as rain or a café to mask noise, and use the floating timer if you work in another window, so you always know how much time is left without breaking your flow.
How the Pomodoro timer works
Four simple steps. No account, nothing to install: it runs right here in your browser.
- 11
Pick what to work on
Add a task and estimate how many pomodoros it needs. The active task is credited automatically when a session ends.
- 22
Start the timer
Press Start (or the Space bar) and give the task your full attention until the bell rings.
- 33
Take a real break
Step away from the screen for 5 minutes. Stretch, drink some water, rest your eyes.
- 44
Repeat, then rest longer
After four pomodoros, take a longer 15–30 minute break. Your stats and streak update on their own.
Everything you need to focus. Nothing you don't.
A calm, distraction-free timer with the tools serious students and makers actually use.
Pomodoro, Flowtime & countdowns
Classic 25/5, 50/10 or your own durations, a count-up Flowtime mode and simple countdowns, exact even in background tabs.
Ambient sounds & lofi
Layer rain, café or forest sounds, brown noise or 40 Hz binaural beats, and add lofi radio or your own Spotify playlist.
Tasks, projects & templates
A to-do list under the timer: pomodoro estimates, notes, subtasks, projects and reusable templates. See when you'll be done.
Stats, streaks & badges
Daily goal, charts, a year heatmap, time per project, session history with CSV export and 100+ badges to unlock.
Study rooms with friends
Create a room, share the link and focus on one shared timer. See who's working and cheer each other on.
Floating timer
Pop the timer out into an always-on-top mini window while you work in other apps.
Scenes, clocks & themes
Dial, flip clock or kitchen timer. Animated scenes or your own photo, snow or sakura effects, light, dark and any colour.
Keyboard shortcuts
Space to start, R to reset, S to skip, F for fullscreen. Your hands never leave the keyboard.
Private by design
No sign-up, no ads, no tracking of your work. Your tasks and stats stay in your browser, exportable anytime.
Related timers
Each timer below is the same full-featured app, preset for a specific method or duration.
Methods
Countdown timers
Frequently asked questions
Is 50/10 better than the classic Pomodoro?
Neither is better in general. 50/10 suits tasks that need a long warm-up and deep concentration, while 25/5 is easier to start and better for low-energy days or fragmented work. Try both for a week and compare your completed sessions in the stats panel.
How many 50/10 sessions should I do per day?
Most people can sustain four to six 50-minute sessions of real deep work per day, which is already 3 to 5 hours of focused output. Beyond that, the quality of attention usually drops.
What should I do during the 10-minute break?
Get away from the screen: walk, stretch, refill your water, look out of the window. Avoid social media and email, which keep your brain busy and make it harder to restart.
Can I change the long break or the number of sessions?
Yes. Open the settings to adjust focus, short break and long break durations, and how many sessions come before a long break. Your changes are saved in your browser.
Learn to focus better
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How Long Should You Study Without a Break?
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An honest look at the evidence: the few studies that tested the Pomodoro Technique, what research on breaks and attention suggests, and the popular claims that don't hold up.
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