Staring at a screen for hours damages your eyes, posture, and energy. FocusMe’s Screen Breaks rule forces you to step away at regular intervals.
Setup
- Add a Plan → choose Screen Breaks as the plan type
- Screen Breaks always apply to the entire computer (not specific apps)
- Configure:
- Work duration: How long before a break is enforced (e.g., 45 minutes)
- Break duration: How long the break lasts (e.g., 5 minutes)
- Set your schedule (e.g., Weekly Schedule for work hours)
- Add protection if you want to prevent skipping breaks
What Happens During a Break
- Your screen locks temporarily
- All applications continue running in the background
- A timer shows how long until the break ends
- When the break ends, your screen unlocks and everything is exactly as you left it
Recommended Configurations
| Style | Work | Break | For |
|---|
| 20-20-20 Rule | 20 min | 20 sec | Eye health (look at something 20 feet away) |
| Standard | 45 min | 5 min | General desk workers |
| Intensive | 25 min | 5 min | Matches Pomodoro rhythm |
| Extended focus | 90 min | 15 min | Deep work sessions |
The 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds) is recommended by eye doctors. Use a 20-minute work duration with a very short break.
Combining with Other Plans
Screen Breaks work independently of other plans. You can run:
- A social media block (Stay Focused, Weekly Schedule)
- Screen Breaks every 45 minutes (separate plan)
Both run simultaneously without interfering with each other. 
