I would like there to be an option for the automatic breaks to occur after a session of a certain length.
So, for example, you can be logged into your computer for 1 hour and then there is a 5min break. Then if you log off the timer resets and starts again.
This would be useful for me to remind me to take a break from the computer to avoid eye strain and keep me moving a bit and is actually why I bought the program.
I had assumed this was how they worked originally as it is how they work on all similar programs I've used but it appears they just work counting down from when they are set in the program this means that if you leave the automatic breaks on I often log on and immediately find I'm locked out of my computer for 5 mins which is irritating!
I am wondering if anyone has experience utilizing FM to limit the use of Skype.
My kids use skype's chat feature for messaging their friends all throughout the homeschool day.
I am wanting to limit the amount of time they spend on it to certain points of the day.
Skype has an ability to notify when new messages come up and I'm wondering if FM can stop this (as it is one of the most distracting issues)
Also - if the kids try to launch the Skype screen which is running in the background while a FM plan is blocking it - will it flash the screen momentarily (thereby letting them see their messages)? Is there a way have FM shut down the program completely?
Thanks!
Hello -
When using FM for a parental control function, you are almost always setting up plans to using passwords - for start and stop, and for pausing.
When setting up the plan - there are several places you are prompted to enter a password - as if the interface anticipates you might use a different password for each setting. This is tedious. It is unlikely for those using FM for parental control to want to have different passwords across all the plans. A feature idea: allow users to set a 'master password' in the main settings - and then just toggle 'guard with password' on or off for each plan, instead of having to type in a new password (and match) each time you make a plan.
What do you think?
Thanks
JL
Would it be possible to get the kerning between the character display and character entry areas to match? When using longer random character locks, the line breaks between the two areas aren't equal, which makes finding erroneously entered characters a much much more tedious process.
I get that ease is not a priority for unlocking breaks, but if I want more difficult I can always increase the characters, which is also appropriately mindnumbing, but less painful than proofing. I'm so averse to setting longer locks for this reason now and it makes the program less useful to me for that reason.
The easiest solution would be to use a monotype font - is there a specific reason why that's not done? Once again, I would think the difficulty of the lock is meant to be in typing it, and not in the more frustrating process of proofing it.
Hello,
I'm joining the Focus Me communities after deciding to try the program as a 'Parental Control' tool which has more fine-tuning options than many out there. My kids use online classes and many websites in our homeschool. We found most sual parental controls are geared towards limiting non academic screen time and have a rather broad brush approach to limits.
I was wanting a program that could handle situations like:
blocking a browser while allowing an app (ie Zoom) so that kids aren't surfing the web while they should be in class
giving short amounts of time accessing google searches but limiting frequency or amount of time/hour
It was a 'Eureka' moment when I discovered that the productivity bandwagon was where I could find such features.
I hope that FM will be able to help keep my kids using their computers efficiently, and also help them learn productivity-hacks from the get-go.
Any other parents out there using FM for their kids? Would love to exchange ideas here.
I think that our online schools would do well to direct parents to this type of software, or even partner with a company such as FM as I know I'm not alone in feeling like distraction is a huge battle for kids in online classes.
In case anyone missed it, I am re-posting this from Facebook.
You would think I’m a master of productivity…
But I’m not. ???
A few mornings ago I realized I had re-developed a bad habit of checking email too frequently.
I was not being highly productive. I was staying up late working. And worst of all missing out on time with my family.
It sounds terrible as someone who actually made this app -- but the days were slipping by there… I was getting stuff done but not necessarily the top things I should be doing.
The problem was the Launch Limiter had a flaw that was really bugging me for months! The idea behind the launch limiter is to limit your time on a certain activity once you started it.
Let’s use email as an example. When you start checking your email, the timer would start to count down, and it would keep going until the time was up. It’s different to the time limit, because with the launch limit the time keeps on counting down, even if you stop using your email (in this example).
The trouble for me was, some days I needed 10 minutes to finish my email, other days I needed 60 minutes. But if I set the maximum time per launch as high as 60 minutes then on my bad days I would keep on checking email many times over the course of an hour.
I needed each launch to automatically end if I stopped using email for a certain period of time.
Out of desperation one morning last week I started coding the new ‘Launch inactivity time out” feature to solve my problem. By 2pm it was finished! It’s been a game-changer for me personally and I hope it will be for the FocusMe community too.
This image is a screenshot of my setup.
Maximum launches per day: 100 (I don’t need to limit number of launches per day)
Maximum time per launch: 1 hour
Launch inactivity time out: 5 minutes
Minimum break time after launch: 1 hour
The Launch Limit Time Out feature is already helping me be productive.
One of the unexpected benefits I found is that I was more reluctant to check email, even when I knew I could! I didn’t want to just randomly check email because I knew the inactivity time out would kick in and trigger a break automatically after 5 minutes.
I now would rather delay checking my email until I really have the time and energy to deal with it fully! It’s a profound relief and I feel a massive productivity boost!
Of course, you don’t have to use this for email. It works equally well for News, Gaming and many other things.
The launch limit has always been my favorite feature (although I suspect that most people are not fully aware of it). But now it’s even better and I’m quite happy with that.
Oh, and it’s available as of yesterday (version 7.1.2.8). Please check it out!
Just wanted to share.
Alt + tab is blocked when used, and the function is not restored when the plan is stopped, even though other explorer functions work then. Restarting explorer.exe restores it. I would like to keep the alt + tab function working while blocking explorer.exe (or at least the folders part) on a Block All Apps plan. I've tried whitelisting csrss.exe, which manages alt + tab, but to no avail.
I'm using Win 10.
I use this shortcut about forty seven times per minute; it is an ingrained instinct in me, so having it taken away is a quite the severe blow to my well-being.
Focusme has been doing wonders to my productivity, so thank you so much for making it!
