Pomo Cowork · Make time for one thing
A timeboxing timer for work that could go on all day
You opened your inbox to answer two messages. Forty minutes later, you are still there. Decide how much time the task gets before you open it.
Your next focus session
A 30-minute work budget with a five-minute break. Change the duration in settings; turn off automatic starts if you want to review before each new interval. An existing session keeps its timing.
Sound and notification settingsChoose the limit before the work expands
Timeboxing means allocating a fixed amount of time to a task, then reviewing where you got when that time is up. The useful question is “How much of my afternoon is this worth?” That is different from guessing exactly how long the task will take. You might allow 20 minutes to compare three suppliers even though you could spend hours researching every option.
Write a stopping rule before pressing Start. For the supplier example: collect the price, delivery date and one unresolved question for each. When the countdown ends, choose from that shortlist or write down the missing fact that prevents a decision. Opening another ten tabs is a new commitment, so give it a reason and its own budget.
This page uses the Pomo Cowork work-and-break timer, starting at 30 minutes. Settings let you change the length and automatic-start behavior. Turn automatic starts off when each box needs a deliberate review. The timer marks your budget; it does not close your email, block websites or move tasks on your calendar.
Write these three things before Start
- The output: “Send a rough proposal with scope, price and open questions.”
- The budget: “I am giving the first draft 30 minutes.” Set that duration.
- The stopping rule: “At zero, review what is missing before doing more.”
- After the block, send the result, schedule a specific follow-up, or give the unfinished part a new budget.
Why use this timer?
A boundary for research
Choose the questions you need answered before searching. A useful shortlist can be enough to move a decision forward.
A limit for small chores
Batch receipts or routine replies into a defined window so they do not quietly take over the morning.
A visible review point
At the end, compare the result with the output you wrote down. Elapsed minutes alone do not tell you whether the job is done.
Three timeboxes you can borrow
- 15 minutes: replies that unblock someone
- Answer the messages that need a decision from you. Leave newsletters and inbox reorganizing for another time.
- 30 minutes: a first proposal
- Fill in the scope, estimate and unanswered questions. Leave formatting until there is something worth formatting.
- 10 minutes: tomorrow’s starting point
- Choose the first task, find the file and leave a note about the next action. Stop once those are ready.
The Pomo Cowork difference
Keep the task beside its time budget
Select an existing task in the timer or organize your list in the main workspace. Fullscreen keeps the countdown visible on a spare display. Account session history can help you review time spent later; this page does not estimate tasks or book calendar slots for you.
Explore the full workspaceQuestions about timeboxing timer
What is the difference between timeboxing and Pomodoro?
Timeboxing sets a budget for a particular piece of work. Pomodoro supplies a repeating rhythm of work and breaks. You can use a Pomodoro timer for a timebox, but decide what happens at the end instead of automatically giving the same task another round.
Is timeboxing the same as time blocking?
Time blocking reserves a place in your schedule, such as research from 10 to 11. Timeboxing adds a limit and an expected output. A calendar block can contain several smaller timeboxes. This tool runs the countdown; it does not edit your calendar.
What if the task is unfinished when the timebox ends?
Check what is left before extending it. You may have enough to send a draft, need one specific answer, or need to shrink the task. If more work is justified, choose another duration explicitly. Going over the estimate is information for planning, not a failed session.
Can I make the timer wait between timeboxes?
Yes. Turn off automatic starts in timer settings before beginning. Work and break controls remain available, and you choose when to start the next interval. Your existing active or paused session keeps its timing when you visit this page.
How much time does this task get?
Write the output and the stopping rule. Then set the minutes.
Set up a timebox