The Pomodoro guide
You don't have a focus problem.
You have a stopping problem.
The Pomodoro technique is simple: work in focused sprints, rest in between. The science is solid — attention is a muscle that recovers with rest. The catch? Nobody actually takes the breaks. That's the part Releaf was built to fix.
The rhythm, in four moves
Pick one task
Not your to-do list — one task. 'Read chapter 4', not 'study'. Releaf can't choose for you, but it will judge you kindly.
Focus for 25 minutes
Start the timer in the pot. Phone face-down, ideally in another postal code. Your companion stands at attention the whole time.
When it bends, you stop
This is the rule that makes everything work. The bend is not a suggestion. Stand up, stretch, water a real plant, look at something further than 50 cm away.
Rest 5, then reset
After your break, tap reset — the flower rises and so do you. Every four sessions, take a longer 15–30 minute break. You've earned it.
Why a bending flower beats a beeping phone
Between 38% and 60% of university students report burnout, and the leading drivers are long unbroken study hours and digital distraction. Everyone already knows breaks matter — the knowledge isn't the problem. A phone reminder is easy to swipe away and easier to ignore; it lives on the very device that eats your focus.
A physical object that visibly changes state is different. When something on your desk slumps over like it's tired, ignoring it costs you a little guilt — and that tiny emotional pull is exactly enough to get you out of your chair. We didn't invent the break. We just made it impossible to miss and slightly adorable.
Field notes from heavy users
Distance beats discipline
Willpower is a battery, not a personality trait. Putting your phone out of arm's reach saves more focus than any technique.
Keep a 'later list'
When an intrusive thought arrives mid-session ('I should check…'), write it on paper and return to work. Process the list during breaks.
Breaks are for bodies
Scrolling is not a break — it's the same posture with worse content. Move, hydrate, stare out a window like a Victorian poet.
Stop while it's good
End your last session at a natural high point. Tomorrow's start is easier when yesterday didn't end in burnout.
Ready to practice with a partner?
Try the rhythm with the interactive demo, or get the real thing on your desk. Try the interactive demo →