Pomodoro Timer How to use a pomodoro timer with a task list
Starting a block with no idea what it's for defeats the point. Tap Add task label on the Timer tab to name the session, then add tasks in the Tasks list and pick whether they stay for This Session or the Full Cycle. Free pins up to 3 tasks; Premium makes that unlimited and adds Save as Template.
★ 5 (5) Why tie tasks to the timer?
The most common way a pomodoro goes wrong is deciding what to do after the timer's already started. Write the task first and the 25 minutes get spent doing it, not choosing it.
Keeping the list short matters just as much. Three concrete items fit into one or two blocks; twenty items turn into a to-do app you avoid opening.
Label the session
- On the Timer tab, tap Add task label.
- Type what this block is for, for example "Essay intro", and pick an emoji if you like.
- Tap play. The label appears next to the countdown, including on the Lock Screen.
The label gets saved with the session, so later you can actually see in Stats what your minutes went into instead of guessing.
Pin a checklist to a session or a cycle
- Open the Tasks list on the Timer tab.
- Add each task as one line.
- Choose the scope: This Session clears the list when the focus block ends, Full Cycle keeps it through every block until the long break is over.
- Tick tasks off as you finish them during the block.
| Situation | Scope | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Three quick emails in one block | This Session | The list is done when the block is done |
| A chapter to study over 100 focus minutes | Full Cycle | The same list follows you through all 4 blocks of the Study cycle |
| Different small jobs each block | This Session | A fresh list every 25 minutes |
Save a list you use often as a template
If you repeat the same routine, a daily review, a revision checklist, add the tasks once and tap Save as Template. Templates live in Task Templates and load the whole list back in one tap. Templates, and anything past 3 pinned tasks, are Premium.
What happens to the list at the end of a block?
With This Session, the list clears when the focus block ends, and whatever you ticked gets saved with that session.
With Full Cycle, the same list follows you through every focus block and short break, and only clears once the long break finishes. Either way, the saved session keeps a snapshot of the tasks, so Session History in Stats shows what each block was actually for.
Where this goes wrong
- Pinning a long backlog. The free limit of 3 is annoying at first, but it's doing you a favor; a fourth slot is rarely missed.
- Using This Session for a list that should last the whole cycle, then wondering where it went after block one.
- Leaving the label blank, which makes your stats close to unreadable a week later.
- Ticking tasks off without ever opening Session History to see the pattern in what you actually finish versus what you planned.
Questions and answers
How many tasks can I pin for free?
Is this a full task manager?
Does the task label show in my stats?
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