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The When it runs step (Step 2) of the Plan Wizard decides when your plan is active. A segmented control at the top switches between the four timing modes: Quick Timer, Weekly Schedule, Pomodoro and Multi-Day Plan. The rule mode and its inline settings live on the same page.

Step 2 When it runs, with Quick Timer selected

The start dialog and the floating timer refer to a running Quick Timer as a session.

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Quick Timer

Start the plan yourself whenever you need to focus. It runs for a set duration, then stops automatically. Settings on Step 2:
  • Rule Mode — Block, Time Limit, Session Limit or Screen Break for the whole session.
  • Session duration — day, hour and minute steppers, with +10m, +30m and Reset buttons.
  • Delay before session — a countdown before blocking begins (for example five minutes to finish what you’re doing). The plan sits on standby during the delay.
  • Screen break after session — lock the screen for a break when the session ends, lasting the length you set.
  • Show plan start dialog — show the start dialog each time you press play so you can adjust the duration; with it on, Reshow on stop reopens the dialog when the session ends so you can start another straight away.
  • Countdown when computer asleep/shutdown — keep the timer running while the computer is asleep or off, instead of pausing it.
  • Scheduled Start — tick the days on which the plan should start automatically.

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The start dialog

When you press play on a Quick Timer with Show plan start dialog enabled, FocusMe asks how long to run:

The Quick Timer start dialog

  • Delay before start — hours and minutes before blocking begins.
  • Session duration — days, hours and minutes, plus +10m / +30m and Reset.
  • Screen break after session — the break to lock the screen for when the session ends.
  • Reshow on stop and Show timer (the floating timer window).
Click Start. While the timer runs you can reopen the same dialog to Apply changes, but only in the stricter direction: the session and break can be lengthened but not shortened, and the delay can’t be extended. Trying to shorten the time shows You cannot set a time period that is less than the previous one.

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Extend Time

Need longer? Right-click the running plan and choose Extend Time, or use Extend Time on the break screen:

The Extend Time dialog

The dialog asks Would you like to add more time for plan: and offers the same day/hour/minute steppers and quick-add buttons. The timer window menu also has Add 5/10/15/30 minutes shortcuts. Best for: ad-hoc focus (“I need two hours”), schedules that change day to day. See the full Quick Timer guide →

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Weekly Schedule

A recurring timetable — put your focus on autopilot. The plan activates and deactivates by itself every week.

Step 2 with Weekly Schedule: day pills, preset chips and the timeline

Settings on Step 2:
  • Day pills — click a day to edit it. Select several days (or Select All) to edit them together; the header reads Editing: Mon, Tue… (changes apply to all selected days). If the selected days already have different timetables, a Different Schedules dialog asks which one to keep for all of them.
  • Presets: chips — 24/7, Office Hours, Weekdays, Weekends and Clear fill in common timetables in one click.
  • Timeline — drag on the timeline to add a time block; drag its edges to adjust it or use the start/end time boxes. Add as many intervals per day as you like, and give each one its own rule mode with the Block / Time Limit / Session Limit / Screen Break control — see One plan, multiple modes.
  • Auto enable daily — re-enable the plan automatically each day, so stopping it only stops it for today.
  • Set end date — tick it and pick a date; the plan expires after that day. Recommended for any plan with strong protection and a 24/7 timetable.
Examples: block social media Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm · block gaming every school night, 6pm–10pm · block every website on Saturday mornings for study. Best for: consistent routines, work-hour blocking, parental controls. See the scheduler guide →

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Pomodoro

Structured work/break cycles based on the Pomodoro Technique: focus on your work for a period of time, then take a break, and repeat. Pomodoro plans always Block during focus periods.

Step 2 with Pomodoro selected

Settings on Step 2:

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The start dialog

The Pomodoro start dialog

Pressing play opens a dialog with Delay before start, a Pomodoros group (Count, Focus (min), Short break, Long break) and a live summary such as 4 × 25m focus + breaks — about 2h 0m total, plus Blank screen during breaks, Wait for user, Reshow on stop and Show timer. Click Start. Best for: sustained focus over long periods, avoiding burnout, anyone who works well with time boxing. See the Pomodoro guide →

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Multi-Day Plan

A sequence of days, each with its own timetable. Day 1 is the day you start the plan, and it advances through the days automatically.

Step 2 with Multi-Day Plan selected — the Days pills and Quick Select

Settings on Step 2:
  • Days: — how many days the sequence lasts.
  • Numbered day pills — click a day to edit its timeline, exactly as on a Weekly Schedule, including a rule mode per interval. Select several days to edit them together (Editing: Day 1, Day 2… (changes apply to all selected)); a Different Schedules dialog appears if they don’t match.
  • Quick Select — Select All, Unselect All, Invert Selection, Odd days, Even days, Select Non-empty, Custom (enter an Active sequence and Skip sequence pattern) and Clear All.
  • Show plan start dialog — show the start dialog when you press play.

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The start dialog

The dialog summarises the run (30 days · Day 1 starts today, Runs until …) and offers Delay before start, Start part-way through the sequence… with Start at day pills, Reshow on stop and Show timer. Examples: a 30-day digital detox with gradually longer blocked hours · a revision plan with a different timetable for each day · a programme that eases restrictions as habits form. Best for: progressive challenges, programmes with varying daily schedules, time-limited experiments.

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Choosing the Right Schedule

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Combining Schedules

You can run several plans at once, so layer them:
  • a Weekly Schedule for baseline work-hour blocking (Mon–Fri, 9–5)
  • a Pomodoro plan for structured deep-work sprints within those hours
  • a Quick Timer for ad-hoc evening focus when you need it