Guide · Timer

Custom Timer Durations (25–90 minutes)

Match your energy to the right sprint length—preview changes, commit to the room, and keep streaks and analytics accurate.

Start a Sprint Join a Live Room

Preset

25 / 5

Classic Pomodoro; best for getting started and inbox clearing.

Preset

35 / 7

Design or writing warm-up; a little more ramp before flow.

Preset

50 / 10

Deep work sprint; aligns with Study Spaces long-room default.

Preset

Custom

Drag the ring or type a duration; Study Spaces remembers per room.

How-to

Preview, commit, and sync

Open your room and click the timer settings gear.
Drag the ring to preview a new duration or type a number of minutes.
Hit Save to commit; everyone in the room syncs to the new focus + break pair.
Run the sprint; streaks and analytics log against the committed duration.
Adjust between blocks if energy changes—shorten to 20 or extend to 60 as needed.

Good defaults by goal

Starting or ADHD days: 15–25 min focus, 5 min break.
Writing/design ramp: 35–40 min focus, 7–8 min break.
Deep work pushes: 50–60 min focus, 10 min break.

FAQ

Does changing the timer affect streaks?

Yes. Streaks and task logs attach to the committed focus duration, so changing length mid-day is recorded cleanly.

Do guests see the change?

Yes. Committing a duration syncs the timer for everyone in the room; previews do not change others until you save.

What’s best for ADHD or low-energy days?

Use 15–25 minute blocks with 5-minute breaks. If the block feels heavy, shorten instead of skipping.

Can I run long waves?

Yes. Try 50/10 or 75/15 for project pushes. Keep breaks honest and recap between waves.

Solo reset

Open /r/zen, set 25 minutes, and start now.

Open →

Long wave

Load a shared room, set 50 minutes, and invite a teammate.

Open →

Program cadence

Add recurring blocks to a Track so the duration sticks each week.

Open →

Research notes

Studies on pacing show shorter blocks increase task initiation for ADHD; longer blocks help complex tasks once flow begins. Keep breaks honest and adjust durations per task, not mood alone.