Cube Timers vs Focus Apps: A Simpler Way to Start

The hardest part of deep work is starting. Focus apps add friction — unlock the phone, open the app, ignore the three notifications that just pulled you in. A cube timer removes all of it.

How it works

Flip the cube so your chosen time faces up — 25, 15, or 5 minutes — and a silent countdown begins. No phone, no app, no ticking. The act of flipping it is the small ritual that tells your brain: we're starting now.

Why it beats an app

  • No phone in your hand means no rabbit hole.
  • Always visible on the desk — a constant, gentle nudge.
  • Silent — no anxiety-inducing tick.
  • One job — it never distracts you with anything else.

It's the Pomodoro technique stripped to its essence. Meet Tempo →