90 Minute Timer
A free 90 minute timer. The natural length of one full deep work cycle.
90:00
Why a 90 minute timer?
Your brain cycles through roughly 90-minute periods of peak focus, then dips. A 90-minute timer lets you ride one full cycle: warm up, hit flow, push through, and stop before you burn out. It's the go-to length for serious deep work — writers, researchers, and engineers often build their day around two or three of these blocks separated by real breaks. Most people get more done in two focused 90-minute blocks than in a full distracted afternoon.
Track your focus sessions
Use the full Minutes app to name what you're working on, save every session, and see your focus patterns over time. Free, no signup.
Open Minutes →Frequently asked
Why 90 minutes?
Research on ultradian rhythms suggests your brain naturally cycles through ~90 minute periods of peak focus followed by a dip. A 90-minute timer aligns deep work with that rhythm — one full focus cycle, then a real break.
Is 90 minutes too long to focus?
It can be at first. If you're new to deep work, start with 45 or 60 minutes and build up. Once you can hold attention for 90 minutes, you'll get more done than two unfocused hours.
What break should follow a 90 minute block?
Take 15 to 30 minutes off — walk, eat, move, stop looking at screens. Then start the next 90-minute block. Two of these a day is more than most people produce.