Break reminder
A focus/rest interval timer that gently reminds you to step away.
Break reminder runs a two-phase focus/rest interval timer with your own custom durations — it counts down focus time, automatically switches to rest time, and then stops and waits for you to manually continue, rather than looping indefinitely.
Focus
50:00
Reminders so far: 0
How to use
- Set focus and rest minutes (1–240 each), and optionally turn on the reminder sound.
- Click "Start" — it counts down focus time, then automatically switches to rest time.
- When rest time ends, the timer stops and waits — click "Continue" to start the next focus round.
Common use scenarios
- Reminding yourself to take regular screen breaks during long work sessions.
- Structuring focused work time with mandatory rest periods to avoid burnout.
- Building a healthier work rhythm with consistent break intervals.
- Timing focus blocks longer than a standard pomodoro session, with custom durations.
✓Content & verification reviewed: 2026-08-25
How we verify Break reminder
How to confirm the two-phase timer behaves exactly as designed around repeats and edits.
Does not auto-loop after rest ends
This is a deliberate design choice: once the rest phase counts down to zero, the timer stops completely and waits — it does not automatically start the next focus round. You need to click "Continue" to begin the next cycle, ensuring you actually notice and take the break rather than it silently continuing in the background.
Mid-countdown edits don't apply immediately
If you change the focus or rest minute values while a countdown is actively running, the change doesn't take effect until the current round finishes (or you reset) — the round in progress always completes using the values that were set when it started.
Reminder sound needs a prior page interaction
The optional reminder sound uses the Web Audio API, which requires at least one prior click on the page before it's allowed to play, due to browser autoplay restrictions — if the sound doesn't play, the countdown and phase switching still work correctly; only the audio cue is affected.
Before you rely on the result
- Focus and rest minutes are both whole numbers between 1 and 240.
- You understand the timer stops (not loops) after each rest phase, requiring a manual "Continue" click.
- You haven't relied on changing minute values mid-countdown expecting an immediate effect.
- If using the reminder sound, you've interacted with the page at least once so autoplay isn't blocked.
Who this is for
- Anyone wanting a reminder to take regular breaks during long work sessions.
- People structuring focused work time with mandatory rest periods to avoid burnout.
- Anyone building a healthier, more sustainable work rhythm with consistent breaks.
- Users who want custom focus/rest durations longer or shorter than a standard pomodoro cycle.
Real-world examples
Building a screen-break habit
Someone who tends to work for hours without looking away from the screen sets a 50-minute focus / 10-minute rest cycle to build a healthier habit of regularly stepping away.
Structuring a long writing session with mandatory rest
A writer working on a long project sets longer focus blocks than a standard pomodoro, relying on the timer's stop-and-wait behavior to make sure they actually take the rest period instead of pushing through.
Avoiding burnout during a crunch period
Someone working long hours during a busy period uses the timer with sound enabled to get an audible nudge to step away, rather than losing track of time entirely.
Limitations
- It does not automatically loop into the next focus round after a rest ends — that's by design, so you actually notice the break.
- Editing the minute fields mid-countdown doesn't apply until the current round finishes or you reset.
- The reminder sound uses the Web Audio API and needs a prior click on the page; if it can't play, the countdown still runs normally, just silently.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't the timer automatically start the next focus round after a break?
That's intentional — the goal is to make sure you actually notice and take the break, rather than it silently continuing in the background. You click "Continue" when you're ready to start the next round.
I changed the minutes while it was counting down, but nothing happened — why?
Changes to the minute fields don't apply mid-round — the currently running countdown finishes using its original values; your change will apply starting with the next round, or you can reset to apply it immediately.
Why isn't the reminder sound playing?
Browser autoplay restrictions require at least one prior click somewhere on the page before audio can play — if you haven't interacted with the page yet, the sound may be silently blocked, though the countdown and phase timing are unaffected.
What's the difference between this and the Pomodoro timer?
This tool is a simpler two-phase (focus/rest) timer with fully custom durations and no auto-looping, while the Pomodoro timer follows the more structured focus/short-break/long-break cycle with automatic continuation.
🔒 Runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded. Results are for reference only; see the disclaimer. Last updated: 2026-08-25
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