What is Pomodoro Mode?
The Pomodoro Technique splits focused work into timed intervals separated by short breaks. The classic pattern is 25 minutes of deep work followed by a 5-minute break. After four complete cycles, you take a longer 15-minute break.
iTimedIT automates the entire cycle. A server-side scheduler advances phases and fires push notifications at each transition, so the technique runs reliably even when your browser tab is in the background or closed.
Enabling Pomodoro mode
Open the Timer page at app.itimedit.com and toggle Pomodoro Mode before starting your timer. Once enabled, the timer header shows the current phase — Work or Break — so you always know where you are in the cycle.
You can enable or disable Pomodoro mode between sessions. It cannot be toggled while a timer is actively running.
Work and break phases
iTimedIT tracks work and break phases as separate states:
Work phase
- The timer counts up from zero against your selected project.
- At the end of the configured work interval, a push notification and sound alert fire.
- The phase automatically transitions to a break.
Break phase
- A break countdown begins immediately after the work phase ends.
- A notification fires when the break is complete, prompting you to start the next work phase.
- Break time is stored separately and is not billed to the project.
Both phases are recorded on the server, so phase history survives page reloads and network interruptions.
Configuring your intervals
Go to Settings → Timer to adjust any of the following values:
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Work interval | 25 minutes | Length of each focused work phase |
| Short break | 5 minutes | Break duration after each work phase |
| Long break | 15 minutes | Extended break after a full cycle |
| Long break after | 4 cycles | Number of work phases before a long break |
Changes take effect at the start of the next session. Adjusting settings mid-session does not affect the current phase in progress.
Sound alerts
A sound alert plays at every phase transition — when a work interval ends and when a break ends. This gives you an audible cue without needing to watch the screen.
To configure sounds:
- Open the sound picker on the Timer page and select your preferred alert tone.
- Alternatively, go to Settings → Timer to set a default sound for all sessions.
- Sounds can be muted entirely from the same settings panel.
Push notifications
Push notifications deliver phase-transition alerts even when iTimedIT is not the active browser tab. To enable them:
- Click Enable Notifications in Settings → Notifications.
- Accept the browser permission prompt.
- Confirm the notification test fires correctly.
Once enabled, you will receive a notification at the end of every work phase and every break phase. Notifications work across desktop and mobile browsers that support the Web Push standard.
Pomodoro and project tracking
All time logged during the work phase is recorded against the project selected at the start of the session. Break time is tracked separately in the system and is never added to project totals or billed hours.
If your project has a budget configured, only work-phase time counts toward budget consumption and alert thresholds. This means your reported hours and budget alerts accurately reflect productive time, not rest time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the Pomodoro interval length?
Yes. Go to Settings → Timer and update the work interval, short break, or long break values. The new intervals apply from the next session onward. The default work interval is 25 minutes, but many users prefer 50-minute intervals for deeper work.
Does Pomodoro time count towards project budgets?
Only work-phase time counts toward a project’s budget. Break time is stored separately and does not contribute to billable hours or trigger budget alerts. If you have a 10-hour budget on a project, only the work intervals reduce that budget.
What happens if I stop the timer during a break?
The break is discarded and no time is recorded for it. The session ends and the completed work-phase entries are saved normally. The next time you start a Pomodoro session, the cycle resets from the beginning.
Can I use Pomodoro without push notifications?
Yes. Sound alerts still fire at every phase transition regardless of notification permissions. Push notifications add an extra layer of awareness when the browser is backgrounded, but the Pomodoro cycle runs and the sound cues work without them.