15 Minute Timer

A free online 15 minute timer, already set and ready to go — press play and it counts down from 15:00, then chimes and flashes so you can't miss the end. No ads, no account, and if you want the countdown visible while you work in other apps, pop it out into a small always-on-top window.

What 15 minutes is good for

Fifteen minutes is the sweet spot for tasks that are real work but don't deserve a full session: clearing an inbox, tidying a desk or a downloads folder, reviewing flashcards, doing a quick workout or making that phone call you've been putting off. It's also the classic "just start" trick — committing to fifteen minutes feels easy, and once the timer is running you'll often keep going. If that happens, the +5 button extends the session without breaking your flow.

Short intervals also work well if longer sessions feel impossible right now — many people with ADHD find a visible 15 minute countdown far easier to commit to than an open-ended "work until it's done".

Tips for a focused 15 minutes

• Pick one task before you press play — fifteen minutes evaporates if you spend it choosing.
• Put your phone out of reach; a quarter hour is short enough to ignore everything.
• Use it as a warm-up: after one easy 15 minute round, step up to a 25 minute Pomodoro.

Frequently asked questions

Is 15 minutes enough to get anything done?

For deep, complex work — usually not on its own. But for bounded tasks, and as a low-resistance way to start something bigger, it's remarkably effective. The hardest part of most work is the first minute.

Can I extend the timer while it's running?

Yes. The +5 and −5 buttons adjust the countdown in 5 minute steps at any time, even mid-session, up to a maximum of 90 minutes.