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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.

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

  1. Open your room and click the timer settings gear.
  2. Drag the ring to preview a new duration or type a number of minutes.
  3. Hit Save to commit; everyone in the room syncs to the new focus + break pair.
  4. Run the sprint; streaks and analytics log against the committed duration.
  5. 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.

Rooms that pair well with custom timers

Choose a room template and tune the timer to match the ritual.

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 your Zen room , 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.

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