ToDoopsHow the 52/17 timer works
- Write what you are working on. One task per block.
- Press Start (or Space). You get 52 minutes of work. The tab title shows the time left and the status line tells you when the break starts.
- Take the 17-minute break. A chime plays when the work block ends, and a break idea appears. If you allow notifications, you also get one when the tab is in the background.
- Repeat. Turn on Start next phase automatically if you want the timer to keep going without a click.
Your finished work blocks and focus minutes for today are counted below the timer. Change the lengths any time; 52/17 brings back the default.
Where the 52/17 rule comes from
The numbers come from DeskTime, a company that makes time-tracking software. In 2014 it looked at the top 10% of its users with the highest share of time in productive apps and found that they worked for about 52 minutes and then took about 17 minutes off. It is observational data from people who use one product, not a controlled experiment. DeskTime repeated the analysis in 2021 and reported a different rhythm, 112 minutes of work and 26 of break, in its own article on whether the rule holds up.
So treat 52/17 as a good starting point, not a law. What the data does support is simple: long stretches of focus with real breaks in between. If 52 minutes is too long or too short for you, change it.
52/17 vs Pomodoro
| 52/17 | Pomodoro | |
|---|---|---|
| Work block | 52 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Break | 17 minutes | 5 minutes, longer after 4 rounds |
| Blocks in a 6-hour stretch | about 5 | about 12 |
| Good for | Writing, coding, design, deep study | Reading, email, getting started, tasks you avoid |
Short blocks make it easy to start; long blocks give you time to get into the problem. Many people use Pomodoro in the morning to break the ice and 52/17 for the hardest work.
Pomodoro TimerAesthetic Pomodoro with themes, rain sounds, streak and focus mode.What to do in a 17-minute break
The break only works if it is a break. Seventeen minutes is long enough to leave the desk:
- Walk, even just to the kitchen and back.
- Drink water or make a tea.
- Look out of a window, far away, to rest your eyes.
- Stretch or do a few squats.
- Tidy the desk and write the next step of your task, so the next block starts fast.
Scrolling the phone feels like rest but keeps your attention busy. Leave it for after the work day.
Plan your day in 52/17 blocks
The Your day in 52/17 card turns the rhythm into a schedule. Pick when you start and how many work blocks you want, and it lists each block and break on the clock, with the total focus time and when you finish. Six blocks starting at 9:00 give you 5 h 12 min of focused work. Put the result into a weekly planner so the deep work gets a slot before the week fills up.
FAQ
What is the 52/17 rule?
It is a work rhythm of 52 minutes of focused work followed by a 17-minute break, based on a 2014 analysis by the time-tracking company DeskTime of its most productive users.
Is 52/17 better than Pomodoro?
Neither is better for everyone. 52/17 suits work that needs time to warm up; Pomodoro's 25 minutes makes it easier to start and suits shorter tasks. Try both for a week and keep the one you actually stick to.
Can I change the 52 and 17 minutes?
Yes. Type any work length from 5 to 180 minutes and any break from 1 to 60. The day plan updates with your lengths.
Does the timer keep running in another tab?
Yes. It counts from your device clock, so it stays accurate in the background. Keep the tab open, and allow notifications if you want an alert when a phase ends.
Is my data stored?
Your lengths, options and today's count stay in your browser's local storage. Nothing is sent to a server.
Turn your routine into a game with friends.
ToDoops keeps this kind of list for you: tasks that renew every day, a streak, and friends who cheer you on (or see your Oops).
