Focus & productivity
Break scheduler
Enter your start time and focus and break lengths to see exactly when each break lands.
Each time shown is when a break begins. Stand up, move and rest your eyes rather than switching to another screen.
Why schedule your breaks
Left to chance, breaks either never happen or sprawl into long distractions. Scheduling them turns rest into part of the plan: you know a break is coming, so you push through the focus block, and you know when it ends, so the break stays short. Enter when you start and your preferred focus and break lengths, and the tool lays out when each break falls across the session. A popular starting point is 52 minutes of work followed by a 17-minute break, but the right numbers depend on your task and how your attention holds up.
| Style | Focus | Break |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Pomodoro | 25 minutes | 5 minutes |
| 52/17 rule | 52 minutes | 17 minutes |
| Deep work | 90 minutes | 20 minutes |
Making breaks count
A break only restores you if it is genuinely different from work. Scrolling your phone keeps your mind in the same mode and leaves attention residue that drags into the next block. Instead, stand up, walk, stretch, look out of a window to rest your eyes, or get some water. Shorter focus blocks suit shallow or tiring tasks, while longer ones suit work that takes time to get absorbed in. If you find yourself fading before the break arrives, shorten the focus block rather than skipping the rest.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I take a break?
It depends on the work, but a break every 25 to 90 minutes suits most people. Shorter focus blocks help with tiring or shallow tasks; longer ones suit work you need to sink into.
What is the 52/17 rule?
It is a pattern of 52 minutes of focused work followed by a 17-minute break, popularised by time-tracking data. It is a useful default, but adjust both numbers to fit your own rhythm.
What should I do during a break?
Something different from work: stand, move, stretch or rest your eyes away from screens. Avoid your phone, since scrolling keeps your mind in work mode and makes the rest less restorative.