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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
    • 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
  • Break after session — tick it and set the break length
  • Reshow on stop and Show timer
The dialog’s title is the plan name, and you can rename the plan there. 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 break after the session can be lengthened but not removed.

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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 — type 10 random characters, then a 2 minute wait counts down before the session ends
  • Lock it Down — type 25 random characters perfectly, then a 10 minute wait. While a wait counts down the plan keeps blocking and shows Stopping; right-click it and choose Cancel Stop if you change your mind
  • Enforced (set under Customize) — the session cannot be stopped; Get help with a plan (an 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 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 →