The Plans Dashboard
When you open FocusMe, you land on the Plans tab. This is your control centre.
The Plans dashboard with several configured plans
- Plan name and description
- Targets — which websites and apps are blocked
- Rule mode — Block, Time Limit, Session Limit, or Screen Breaks (shows all modes used across your schedule)
- Schedule — when the plan runs
- Protection — whether the plan is password-protected
- Status — active, paused, or stopped
Actions
- Add a Plan — opens the Plan Wizard to create a new plan
- Library — browse and import pre-built plan templates
- Start / Stop — activate or deactivate a plan
- Edit — double-click a plan to modify it
- Rename — double-click the plan name or right-click → Rename
- Duplicate — right-click → Duplicate to create a copy with all settings
- Drag to reorder — drag plans up and down to change their order in the list
- Right-click — access the full context menu with import/export, reset, and more
Anatomy of a Plan
Every plan is configured through the Plan Wizard. The key components:1. Targets
What gets blocked (or allowed). Websites and applications are configured on a single page. You can:- Block some websites — blacklist specific URLs or window titles
- Block all websites — whitelist only the sites you need
- Block some apps — blacklist specific desktop apps
- Block all apps — whitelist only the apps you need
- Block entire computer — lock out everything (for enforced breaks)
2. Rule Mode
How blocking is enforced:
On Weekly Schedule and Multi-Day plans, each time slot can have its own rule mode — so one plan can block during work, allow a time limit at lunch, and set session limits in the evening.
Learn more about Rule Modes →
3. Schedule
When the plan runs:
Learn more about Schedule Modes →
4. Protection
How difficult it is to bypass:
Protection can be set separately for when the plan is active, on standby, disabled, and when pausing.
Learn more about Plan Protection →
Running Multiple Plans
You can run any number of plans simultaneously. Common setups:- “Work Focus” — blocks social media Mon-Fri 9-5 (Weekly Schedule + Block)
- “Eye Health” — enforces a 5-minute break every 45 minutes (Screen Breaks)
- “Evening Wind-Down” — blocks all screens after 10pm (Block + Enforced)
- “Social Media Diet” — allows 30 minutes of social media per day (Time Limit)
Penalty
The Penalty adds escalating consequences for repeatedly trying to open blocked sites or apps. Each time you attempt to access a blocked target, the penalty gets harsher — blocking extends for longer, making it progressively less worthwhile to keep trying. Example escalation: You try to open Instagram while it’s blocked. First attempt: 5 extra minutes of blocking. Second attempt within the reoffence window: 10 minutes. Third: 30 minutes. By the time you’ve tried a few times, you’ve added hours of additional blocking on top of your original schedule.
Penalty configuration on the Targets page
The Penalty applies to Block rule mode only. Configure it on the Targets page of the Plan Wizard.
Idle Timeout
Plans can be configured with an idle timeout that pauses the timer when your computer is idle (no keyboard or mouse activity). After 30 seconds of inactivity, FocusMe stops counting time against your budget or session. This is enabled by default and is most useful for Time Limit and Screen Break plans — it ensures that stepping away from your desk doesn’t eat into your allowed time or trigger an unnecessary break. Configure it in Step 5 (Details) of the Plan Wizard.Notifications
Each plan has its own notification toggles, configured in Step 5 (Details) of the Plan Wizard:- Status changes — plan started, stopped, or paused
- Usage alerts — approaching your time limit
- Soon starting — advance warning before a scheduled plan activates
- Soon ending — warning before a session or schedule period ends
- Fixed intervals — periodic reminders at set intervals that the plan is active