Will the timer keep running if I switch tabs?

Yes. The timer runs on the absolute clock, not on ticks, so throttled background tabs don't slow it down. Bells ring on time; come back when you hear them.

hold the boundary

Meditation Timer

Q: What are interval bells for?

During a long sit, attention drifts — that's normal, not failure. A soft bell every few minutes gives you a kind anchor to return to, without breaking the silence with words or a screen.

Q: Can the screen stay off?

On phones, the timer keeps counting with the screen off in most browsers. For guaranteed behaviour, install the site as an app. The bells are synthesised live, so nothing needs downloading mid-sit.

A start bell, interval bells, an end bell — and silence in between. No guided voice, no music, no streaks to keep. Your sit, your silence, timed by bells synthesised live. Sit however you sit — the bell doesn't judge posture.

sit length

interval bell

5:00

ready

how to

Set it, sit down, forget the clock

step 1

Choose the length of your sit

Five minutes is a real sit — the daily five beats the heroic thirty that never happens again. Turn the interval bell on if a long sit tends to drift; it's a soft anchor, not an alarm.

step 2

Begin, and put the phone face-down

One light bell marks the start. The timer runs on the absolute clock, so switching tabs or a screen going dark doesn't slow it — the bells will find you on time.

step 3

When the end bell rings, don't jump up

Three bells say the sit is done. Take three unhurried breaths before moving — the way you end is part of the practice, not the end of it.

why it works

Why a bell, and not a screen

Every glance at a clock is a small exit from the sit. A timer display asks "how much left?" and pulls you into the future; a wordless app asks nothing. Sound, not sight — bells mark time's boundaries without dragging your eyes open for them.

The interval bell has a specific job. During longer sits attention drifts — that's normal, not failure. A soft bell every few minutes gives the mind a clean handle to come back to, the way a temple bell does for a courtyard: you don't have to do anything with it except notice, and return.

There's no streak counter here on purpose. The sit that matters is today's — not the chain you're afraid to break.

And the bells themselves are synthesised live — three tones with a bell's non-harmonic overtones, decaying naturally, computed by your browser. Nothing downloads, nothing loops, and they sound the same offline as on.

questions

Five honest answers

Do I have to meditate a specific way?

No. It times silence and rings bells — that's all. Sit however you sit: breath focus, body scan, mantra, or simply nothing. The timer just holds the boundary so you don't check the clock.

What are the interval bells for?

During a long sit, attention drifts — normal, not failure. A soft bell every few minutes gives you a kind anchor to return to, without words or a screen breaking the silence.

Will it keep running if I switch tabs?

Yes. The timer runs on the absolute clock, not on ticks, so throttled background tabs don't slow it. Bells ring on time; come back when you hear them.

Can the screen stay off?

On phones, counting usually continues with the screen off; for guaranteed behaviour, install the site as an app. The bells are synthesised live — nothing needs downloading mid-sit.

How long should a beginner sit?

Five minutes is a real sit. The habit matters more than the duration — a daily five beats a heroic thirty that never happens again. Lengthen only when five starts feeling short.

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