Alternating work and rest on a schedule
Enter how long each work phase lasts, how long each rest lasts and how many rounds to run, or choose repeat until stopped. The big display shows the current phase, the time left in it and the round counter, so you can follow it from a distance.
A tone plays at each change between work and rest, which lets you keep your eyes on the task rather than the screen. The page does not suggest exercises or routines. You decide what the work and rest blocks are for.
Typical uses are study sprints of 20 minutes with a 5 minute pause, speaking drills of 45 seconds with 15 seconds to reset, language flashcards, timed writing, or a cleaning round where each room gets a fixed slot. For one block with no rest, a fixed timer is simpler.
Because the display names the phase in large type, it works on a shared screen too. A tutor can put a speaking drill on the wall while a pair of students alternate, and the tone tells them when to swap without anyone watching a clock.
Total time is rounds multiplied by work plus rest. Ten rounds of 30 seconds work and 10 seconds rest take 400 seconds, which is 6 minutes 40 seconds. Work that out before you start so you know when you will finish. Repeat until stopped suits open-ended practice where you decide when to quit.
Press Full screen to show the current phase in very large type from across a room. The tone at each switch means you do not have to watch, so one person can run the timer for a group while everyone keeps their eyes on the task.
If the pattern you want is common, enter it directly: for example 20 seconds work, 10 seconds rest, 8 rounds, which is a named 4 minute timing pattern. The page only keeps time. What you do inside each block is up to you.
Common work and rest patterns
These are timing patterns people enter often. Total is rounds times work plus rest.
| Work | Rest | Rounds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 min | 5 min | 4 | 2 h |
| 45 sec | 15 sec | 10 | 10 min |
| 30 sec | 10 sec | 10 | 6 min 40 sec |
| 20 sec | 10 sec | 8 | 4 min |
| 1 min | 30 sec | 6 | 9 min |
Totals are rounds times (work plus rest). The page sets no routine and gives no health advice.
Questions about this timer
Is there a rest after the final round?
The total shown counts every work and rest block you set. Set rest to zero if you want the rounds to run back to back.
What does repeat until stopped do?
It keeps cycling work and rest with no round limit, until you stop it yourself.
Can I use it for homework or language practice?
Yes. Any task that splits into timed attempts works, such as 30 second spoken answers with a 10 second gap.
Can I hear the tone with headphones in?
The tone plays through whatever output your device is using. Check the volume before the first round starts.
How do I work out the total time?
Multiply the number of rounds by work plus rest. Ten rounds of 30 seconds work and 10 seconds rest is 400 seconds, or 6 minutes 40 seconds.
Can one phase be zero?
Set rest to zero to run work blocks back to back, or use repeat until stopped for no round limit.