A relaxation timer with a breathing circle you can follow
This is an early preview of relaxationtimer.com, a calm, one-tap breathing timer. Pick 1, 3, or 5 minutes and a slow circle paces your breath while a quiet countdown runs. The finished site is being built now.
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Try the breathing timer
sample preview, design may changeThis preview keeps it to three lengths and a single breathing pace. The finished site will add ambient soundscapes, guided sessions, a sleep timer, and custom lengths.
A free online relaxation timer with a guided breathing circle: pick 1, 3, or 5 minutes and start in one tap. This preview lets you try the breathing pacer now; the finished site is launching soon.
How a 5 minute relaxation timer works
A relaxation timer is a simple countdown built for calming down rather than tracking a task. You choose a length, a circle expands and contracts to set the rhythm of your breath, and a soft chime tells you when the time is up. The point is to give your attention one small, gentle thing to follow so your nervous system can settle.
Five minutes is the sweet spot for most people. It is long enough for your breathing to slow and your shoulders to drop, but short enough to fit into a work break, a study gap, or the few quiet minutes before bed. One minute is for an acute spike, when you need to interrupt a rush of stress right now. Three minutes suits a midday desk reset. This preview lets you feel the difference between all three lengths before the full version arrives.
Why a breathing pacer beats a plain countdown
Most online timers just show you numbers ticking down, and staring at numbers is not relaxing. A breathing pacer is different: the circle grows while you breathe in and shrinks while you breathe out, so your breath gradually matches a slow, even rhythm without you having to count. A slightly longer exhale than inhale gently nudges the body toward its rest-and-digest state, which is the calm you are after.
That is the gap this tool fills. Plain meditation timers give you a bell and nothing to follow. Dedicated breathing apps often bury the start button under menus of patterns, custom counts, and sliders, which is the last thing you want in a stressful moment. A pacer you can start in one tap, with no setup, is the quiet middle ground.
Box breathing versus 4-7-8: which and when
Two named breathing patterns come up most often, and they are good for different moments. Box breathing uses four equal counts, in for four, hold for four, out for four, hold for four. It is steadying and good for focus or a reset between tasks, which is why it is popular before something demanding. 4-7-8 breathing stretches the exhale, in for four, hold for seven, out for eight, which leans the body toward sleep and is a favorite for winding down. The preview here uses one gentle, even pace; the finished site will let you pick named patterns like these.
| Pattern | Counts | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Simple in and out | In 4, out 6 | A quick everyday calm |
| Box breathing | 4-4-4-4 | Focus and resets |
| 4-7-8 | In 4, hold 7, out 8 | Winding down for sleep |
When to use a 1, 3, or 5 minute reset
The three lengths map to real moments. Reach for 1 minute when stress spikes and you just need to break the loop, before a phone call or in the middle of a busy afternoon. Use 3 minutes as a proper desk break, long enough to step away from the screen without losing your thread. Choose 5 minutes before bed, in a calm corner, or whenever you have a little more room to fully unwind. Teachers and parents find the longer length handy as a shared quiet timer too.
Calm down fast, with nothing to install
When you are anxious, the worst thing a tool can do is ask you to sign up, download an app, or pick from a dozen options first. This preview is built around the opposite idea: open it, tap a length, follow the circle. There is no account, no install, and nothing to figure out. When the full site launches it will stay free and stay this simple, with the calm surface itself doing part of the work. Leave your email above and we will tell you the moment it is ready.
Be first to know when it launches
One email the day the full relaxation timer goes live. No spam, no list, just the launch note.
Questions about the relaxation timer
Will the relaxation timer be free?
Yes. The finished site will be free to use with nothing to install and no account required. That is the plan from day one.
What is the breathing circle?
A slow shape that grows as you breathe in and shrinks as you breathe out, so your breath settles into an even rhythm without you having to count.
Can I turn the breathing guide off?
Yes. Toggle the breathing guide off in the preview for a plain calm countdown with no moving circle.
Will there be a loud alarm?
No. The timer ends with a soft chime and a gentle fade, never a jolting alarm. The whole point is to stay calm.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. This preview runs in any modern mobile or desktop browser, and the finished site will too.
What will the full site add?
Ambient soundscapes, named breathing patterns like box and 4-7-8, custom lengths, a sleep timer, and guided sessions. Leave your email to hear when they land.