Hormozi Timer
Hormozi's rule: if your phone or Slack distracts you, hit pause. Only real work counts.
Space start / pause·R reset
getkappi.com
A free timer built the way Alex Hormozi works
Alex Hormozi keeps a twist kitchen timer on his desk. He sets it for how long he thinks a task should take, works until it rings and stops it the moment his phone or Slack distracts him. His go-to is 45 minutes with notifications off. The Hormozi Timer is a free full-screen version of that habit: giant digits you can see from across the desk, his block lengths as presets and a counter for every time you pause.
How to use it
- Type the one task you’re racing. One task, not a list.
- Pick a block. 45 minutes is the default. 35 and 60 cover shorter and longer tasks.
- Kill your phone. Block your distracting apps or put the phone in another room. A timer can’t do this part.
- Go full screen and start.
- Pause every time you get distracted. A text, a Slack check or a “quick look.” The counter tallies them.
- At the chime walk for 5 to 10 minutes. Then go again and try to beat your pause count.
Hormozi’s timer lengths, explained
| Preset | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| 35 minutes | The example in his timer video: a task he expected to take 35 minutes |
| 45 minutes | His most-quoted suggestion and the default here |
| 60 minutes | His longer block before a 5 to 10 minute walk |
| 4 hour sprint | “Turn a kitchen timer to 4 hours” and advertise until it goes off |
Why pausing matters
Most timers keep running while you check your phone so a “45 minute” session can include 15 minutes of scrolling. Hormozi pauses his timer so it only counts real work. When the block ends the pause count shows how often you got distracted. If it’s high the usual fix is to put the phone further away.
For the reasoning behind the method read Alex Hormozi’s timer method. For the rest of his setup (the dead phone and the dark room) see Alex Hormozi’s productivity system. Want plain presets from 15 minutes instead? Use the Big Focus Timer.
What’s included
- Giant full-screen countdown digits
- Presets for 35, 45 and 60 minute blocks plus a 4 hour sprint
- Pause counter so every distraction shows up at the end
- Custom times up to 4 hours
- Soft chime when time is up
- Countdown shown in the browser tab title
- Keeps your screen awake while the timer runs
- Keyboard shortcuts: Space, R and F
- Remembers your last setup. No account, nothing uploaded
Frequently asked questions
What is the Hormozi timer?
It's the way Alex Hormozi works: he sets a kitchen timer for how long a task should take, works until it goes off and stops the timer whenever he gets distracted so only real work counts. This free tool recreates that in your browser with a pause counter to keep score.
How long should I set the Hormozi timer for?
Start with 45 minutes. It's the length Hormozi suggests most often, with notifications off. Use 35 or 60 if the task needs it and take a 5 to 10 minute walk between blocks.
What is the 4 hour sprint?
Hormozi's advice to business owners making under $100k a month is to turn a kitchen timer to 4 hours and advertise until it goes off. The 4 hour preset is for that kind of long single-channel push.
Why does the timer count pauses?
Hormozi stops his timer when his phone rings or he checks Slack. Counting those pauses shows you how often you got distracted. It's usually more than you'd guess. Fewer pauses per block is the goal.
Is this the actual timer Alex Hormozi uses?
No. Hormozi uses a physical twist kitchen timer. This is a free browser version made by Kappi, built around how he describes using his. Kappi is not affiliated with Alex Hormozi.
Can this timer block apps on my phone?
No, a website can't block apps. That's the other half of Hormozi's setup: the dead phone. Kappi does that on iPhone: start a focus session and it blocks the apps you choose with Apple's Screen Time.
Keep going
Guide
Alex Hormozi's Timer Method: Use a Big Timer to Get More Done
What Alex Hormozi actually said about working against a timer, why a big visible countdown sharpens focus (Parkinson's law, goal gradient, phone distraction) and a step-by-step way to run it.
Guide
Alex Hormozi's Productivity System: Dead Phone, Dark Room, Kitchen Timer
How Alex Hormozi sets up his work: a phone made useless by an app blocker that only unlocks when he walks away, a dark room with earplugs and headphones, one task, a kitchen timer and 5 to 10 minute walks. With sources and a step-by-step setup.
Free tool
Big Focus Timer
A free full-screen countdown timer with giant digits, presets from 15 to 60 minutes, a chime at zero, keyboard shortcuts and a screen wake lock. No sign-up.