A 10 minute timer you can see
Ten minutes is long enough to make real progress and short enough to start. It is the work half of the 10-3 rule.
This is a visual timer. The time is a blue disk that shrinks as the minutes pass: more disk, more time. You can read it in one glance from across a room, with no numbers to work out. The last minute turns amber, and the end is one soft chime.
What 10 minutes are good for
- The 10-3 rule: ten minutes on the task you are avoiding, then a three-minute break.
- Homework in short blocks for younger children, with a break between each.
- One step of the morning routine: ten minutes to get dressed.
- A ten-minute tidy before bed.
One tip
Name the one thing before you start. Type it in the box above the disk: "math sheet", "reply to the school". One clear job per ten minutes works better than a list.
Other timer lengths
1 min · 2 min · 3 min · 5 min · 10 min · 15 min · 20 min · 25 min · 30 min · 45 min · 60 min
Need a different length? Type any number of minutes from 1 to 180 in the Custom box, or open the main visual timer, which remembers the length you used last. For work and break cycles that run themselves, use the pomodoro timer.
Why a shape works better than numbers
Numbers only help if you can feel what "10 minutes" is like. For many children, and for many people with ADHD, that feeling is unreliable. This is often called time blindness. A disk that shrinks turns time into something you can see, so nobody has to guess. More in our guide to visual timers.
Questions about the 10 minute timer
What is the 10-3 rule?
Work for ten minutes, then take a three-minute break. It shrinks a task down to a size your brain will start, and the promised break makes starting feel safe. When you tap Done, the 3-minute break button appears.
Is ten minutes of homework enough?
For young children, several short blocks with breaks often go better than one long sitting. Follow your school's guidance for the total, and split it into ten-minute blocks.
Is this 10 minute timer free?
Yes. It is free, with no signup and no account. It runs in your browser on a phone, tablet, laptop or classroom screen.
Does the 10 minute timer make a loud alarm?
No. It plays one soft chime at the end and the disk turns amber, not red. You can switch the sound off with the bell button.