Pomodoro Variations – Finding Your Perfect Timing

The Problem
I tried 25 minutes. My brain said no.

Too short for deep work. Too long when scattered. The standard Pomodoro felt like wearing someone else’s shoes.

Turns out, there’s no “one size fits all” — especially for ADHD and autistic brains.

Your Options
52/17 Rule (deep work)
Work 52 min, break 17 min. Research shows this hits your focus sweet spot for complex tasks.
Try if: You do coding, writing, design work

90-Minute Cycles (ultradian rhythms)
Your brain naturally cycles every 90 min (Kleitman’s research). Ride that wave.
Try if: You have deep focus blocks available

45/15 (balanced work)
Work 45 min, break 15 min. Middle ground — longer focus, real rest.
Try if: You need structure but 25 feels too tight

15/5 (scattered minds)
Work 15 min, break 5 min. Fast cycles, lots of tiny wins.
Try if: You have ADHD, get restless, need frequent dopamine hits

How to Find Yours
Pick one. Use it for 2 weeks. Track how you feel:

Did you actually focus?
Did the break feel right?
Did you finish what you started?
Adjust and repeat.

The Twist
Your perfect timing isn’t permanent. Some days you need 15/5. Some days 90 minutes works. Listen to your brain, not the timer.

Try It
Our timer lets you set custom intervals.

Experiment in our app →

Questions? Drop them in the comments.