Productivity
Task Timer
One task per countdown. It sizes work honestly and stops single jobs quietly eating an afternoon.
Task Timer
15:00
Ready
- Ends at
- —
- Elapsed
- 00:00
Settings
Space start or pause · R reset · F full screen
What this one is for
- One task per block
- Reveals what jobs really cost
- Stops open-ended drift
Estimating is a skill, and a timer is how you practise it. Set what you think the task needs, then compare that against the alarm a few times and your planning changes permanently. It opens at 15:00; change that with the chips under the dial.
Worth knowing
- Estimate first, then compare with the alarm. That gap is worth knowing.
- One task per countdown, decided before you press start.
- Jobs that need three blocks were never going to fit in a spare moment.
Getting the most from the task timer
- Name the task in one sentenceWith a verb in it. If it will not fit in a sentence, the task is too big for one block.
- Start before you feel readyMotivation follows starting, not the other way round. The countdown is the commitment device.
- Write the next action before you stopTen seconds now saves four minutes of reorientation next time.
Related timers
Questions people ask
How long should I set a task timer for?
Estimate the task, then set that time. Comparing your estimate with the alarm a few times is the fastest way to learn how long your work actually takes.
What if I finish before the alarm?
Use the remaining time to set up the next block: name the task and open what you need. That is the cheapest minute you will spend all day.
Does the task timer work on a phone?
Yes, in any mobile browser. It asks to keep the screen awake while it runs so the alarm is not missed.