5 minute timer
Long enough to start something, short enough that you will.
5:00
Want it to ring like an alarm, and call you for the next one?
BrightMind rings like a real alarm when it is time, then calls you to help you start what is next.
What a 5 minute timer is good for
Get unstuck
Promise yourself five minutes on the thing you keep avoiding. Stopping after is allowed.
Reset a room
Put away what you can before it rings. You will be surprised how far five minutes goes.
Reply to one message
The one that has been sitting there. Send it before the disk runs out.
Stretch or breathe
A real break between two blocks of work, with a clear end.
Make the call
Dial before the timer ends, so the dread does not get the extra hour.
Why a timer you can see helps
Ten minutes as a number is abstract. Ten minutes as a disk that gets smaller is something you can feel. For a lot of people, and especially for ADHD brains, that difference is what makes starting possible: the end is in sight before you begin.
Seeing time drain also makes transitions easier. You know a change is coming, so it does not arrive as a surprise. That is why visual timers are a staple in classrooms, therapy and ADHD coaching.
Questions
Does the timer keep running in another tab?
Yes. It counts against your clock, not by ticking, so it stays accurate when you switch tabs or lock your screen. The time left shows in the tab title.
Will it make a sound?
A soft three-note chime always plays at zero. Turn on Ticking if you also want a quiet tick every second. Your browser needs the page to stay open for the sound to play.
Can I add time to a 5 minute timer?
Tap +1 to add a minute while it runs. When it ends you can start it again or add five more minutes.
Is there a keyboard shortcut?
Space starts and pauses, R resets, and F goes full screen.