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A Quick Timer plan blocks on demand for a set duration. Unlike a Weekly Schedule, it only runs when you press play, which makes it the right tool for “I need ninety minutes right now”.

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Creating a Quick Timer plan

Step 2 When it runs with Quick Timer selected

  1. Click Add a Plan, name it and add your sites and apps on What to block
  2. On When it runs, choose Quick Timer in the segmented control
  3. Choose the Rule Mode — Block for a full block, or Time Limit, Session Limit or Screen Break — and set the default session length with the day, hour and minute steppers. +10m, +30m and Reset adjust it quickly
  4. Set the options you want:
    • Delay before session — a countdown before blocking begins
    • Screen break after session and lasting — an enforced break when the session ends
    • Show plan start dialog — show the start dialog each time you press play, so you can adjust that session
    • Reshow on stop — reopen the start dialog when a session ends, ready for the next one
    • Countdown when computer asleep/shutdown — keep counting while the computer is off
    • Scheduled Start with day pills — start the session automatically at a set time on chosen days
  5. Click Next, pick a How strict preset and click Create & Enable on Review

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Starting a session

The Quick Timer start dialog

Press play on the plan in the Plans list. The start dialog lets you set up this session without editing the plan:
  • Delay before start — hours and minutes before blocking begins. The plan sits on Standby until then
  • Session duration — days, hours and minutes, with +10m and +30m buttons and Reset
  • Screen break after session — tick it and set the break length
  • Reshow on stop and Show timer
Click Start. The plan’s row turns Active and the countdown begins.
Use the delay as a ritual: five minutes to save your work, close stray tabs and set up your workspace before the block lands.

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The floating timer

The floating timer window

With Show timer ticked, a small always-on-top timer shows the time left. Right-click it for Add 5 minutes, Add 10 minutes, Add 15 minutes, Add 30 minutes, Pause, Stop, Restart Session and Hide Timer. Hidden timers can be shown again from the plan’s right-click menu with Show Timer. Learn more about the timer window →

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Extending a running session

The Extend Time dialog

Still in the zone as the timer runs down? Add time without stopping:
  1. Right-click the plan in the Plans list and choose Extend Time, or right-click the floating timer and pick one of the Add … minutes items. Extend Time is also on the break screen
  2. In the dialog, set the new duration and click Apply
While a session runs it can only be made longer, never shorter, and a screen break after the session can be lengthened but not removed. Pressing play again on a running plan opens the same dialog.

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Stopping early

Whether you can stop depends on the How strict setting:
  • Unlocked — click stop and the session ends
  • Gentle Guidance — type 5 random characters
  • Firm but Flexible and Lock it Down — a wait comes first (2 or 10 minutes). Once it is over, FocusMe shows a Ready to stop notification and you have a few minutes to complete the random-characters challenge. Lock it Down demands 25 characters typed perfectly
  • Enforced (set under Customize) — the session cannot be stopped; Assisted Stop is the only route, via an accountability partner or FocusMe support
Learn more about plan protection →

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Tips

  • Start small. New to timed sessions? Begin with 25 – 30 minutes and extend when you are in flow.
  • Chain sessions. With Reshow on stop, the start dialog is back the moment a session ends, so the next one is one click away.
  • Add a break after. A 5 minute Screen break after session stops one sprint turning into a marathon. See Screen Breaks.
  • Start from the command line. Quick Timer plans can be started and extended from scripts — see CLI Plan Control.
Learn more about schedule modes →