Mario Pomodoro Timer

This 3D-printed block from the Mario games hides a Pomodoro timer, an essential tool for users of the Pomodoro Technique (a time management method), whereby practitioners break up their day into 45-minute bursts of productivity interspersed with 5-minute breaks to make a cup of tea, walk around the block, or anything that will make them more productive when they get back to work.

CoderOK listed the functionality he needed, then found a Mario block on Thingiverse, with enough space inside for the Arduino Pro Mini, piezo buzzer, real-time clock, battery, and the wiring that the project needed. He tweaked the 3D model to add holes for the button on the lid, and the 4-digit display that shows the time remaining, how many successful Pomodoro sessions you’ve achieved, and a few more key functions. It’s a great example of a build that does one thing, and one thing well, but it won’t give you mushrooms that make you twice your size.