A Pomodoro-style timer alternates a focus period and a break. Zehano starts at twenty-five minutes of focus and five minutes of rest, but those values are controls rather than rules you must obey. The timer is useful when it gives a manageable boundary to a specific action.
Prepare the first block
Choose a task small enough to describe in one sentence. Set focus and break minutes before pressing Start. Put unrelated tasks somewhere you can return to them later. The running display shows the current phase and remaining time; pause if something needs your attention.
Use the controls deliberately
Pause keeps the remaining time. Reset returns to the first focus phase and clears the cycle count. Next phase moves directly between focus and rest. The optional transition bell is off until you enable it. Keep the browser available if you rely on a visual or audible cue.
Review rather than accumulate
At the end of a cycle, ask what you completed and what the next action is. A cycle count is not verified output, and a timer cannot tell whether you were concentrating. If the block repeatedly ends in the middle of useful work, try a different duration. If the first step still feels too large, shorten the task before lengthening the session.
Updated 10 October 2026. Original practical guide created with AI-assisted drafting and software checks. No professional or clinical review is claimed. Editorial approach and corrections.