50/10 Pomodoro Timer

What is the 50/10 method?

50/10 is a Pomodoro variation with longer blocks: 50 minutes of focused work, then a 10-minute break, repeated. It keeps what makes the original 25/5 Pomodoro work (a clear start, a clear end and a real rest) but gives you room to get properly absorbed in demanding work such as writing, coding or problem sets.

It isn't a formally researched technique with studies of its own. Think of it as one point on a spectrum between the classic 25-minute Pomodoro and a 90-minute deep work block.

What does the research say about block length?

Less than the productivity internet suggests. Two pieces of evidence are worth knowing:

• Observational data. In a 2014 analysis, the time-tracking company DeskTime found that its most productive users worked in sprints averaging about 52 minutes and rested about 17. Later repeats of the study found different numbers, and because it observed existing behavior rather than assigning it, it can't show that a particular length causes better results. See our 52/17 guide.
• A controlled study. A 2025 experiment with 94 university students compared Pomodoro, Flowtime and self-regulated breaks and found no significant difference in overall productivity or task completion. See Flowtime vs Pomodoro.

The practical conclusion: no block length has been proven best. 50/10 is a sensible middle option, so try it for a week and compare it with 25/5 on your own work.

About the "Cal Newport timer"

Many people search for a "Cal Newport deep work timer". Newport's book Deep Work doesn't prescribe a specific interval. It describes four ways of scheduling protected deep work (monastic, bimodal, rhythmic and journalistic). A 50-minute block is a convenient unit for the rhythmic approach, a fixed daily block, but the number itself isn't his. For tools that support his framework, see our guide to deep work apps.

50/10 or 25/5: which should you use?

	25/5 Pomodoro	50/10
Best for	Starting tasks you're avoiding, interruption-heavy days, beginners	Work that needs immersion once you're moving: writing, coding, problem sets
Main risk	The alarm can cut off momentum	Harder to start, and a long block if focus fades early
Breaks per hour	Two	One

If you often find it hard to begin, start with 25/5 and move up. If 25 minutes keeps ending just as you get going, 50/10 is the natural next step.

How to run a 50/10 session

1. Write one specific outcome for the block, such as "draft sections 2 and 3".
2. Remove interruptions. Close unrelated tabs, silence notifications and keep your phone out of reach.
3. Press Start and work on that one thing only.
4. Park distractions on paper. If an unrelated thought pops up, jot it down and go back.
5. When the timer rings, stop and write one line about where to restart. The 10-minute break starts automatically.

For the break itself, try to rest away from screens: stand up, drink some water, walk around or look out of a window. For how many blocks to attempt in a day, Newport has suggested that most people can manage roughly one to four hours of truly deep work, so two to four 50-minute blocks is a realistic ceiling for many people. More on building the habit in how to concentrate.