I get the password to stop a plan only when I send an email

Hi,

It’s great to be here. I wished when I got this app that there was a dedicated forum for FocusMe, and now it’s here! Thank you. This app is wonderful and has improved my productivity single-handedly.

I’d just like to share one little “trick” that I use to make it even more effective. It obviously cannot be applied to all situations, but if you have work like me, it really helps. All I have to do is write a few articles and send them to my employers’ ID. Anyone in writers’ work would know how easy it is to procrastinate. I also don’t have very strict deadlines, so I can slack off easily. It gets to the point that I have many articles pending that should have been sent weeks ago.

So I create a plan that blocks distractions and use a password to stop it. And that’s the only way I can stop that plan. It’s a password with random characters, making it hard to memorize by just looking at it a few times.

So then, what I do is that I create a “flow” in Microsoft Flow service. It works like this: when an email is sent from my email account (Gmail) that meets the criteria I set, this system automatically creates a text file containing my password in my OneDrive folder. This works for me wonderfully because I have this extra motivation to work and send articles daily on time, so I can get the password and have some fun time on social media or watch YouTube, etc.

It’s risky because there’s no way to end or pause the plan at all until I send that email with a very specific subject line and specific attachments. But that’s why it works.

Thanks. Just wanted to share.

Hi Vivian,

This is very ingenious! :slight_smile:

I hope other writers will find this useful!

Thanks

Hi Lucas20!

We’re delighted to know that it helps you become more productive and focused especially when you’re writing your piece. Cheers to that!

We’re here if ever you need help.

Thanks,

Ryan

The FocusMe Support Team

I see something great in your article!

This is a smart productivity hack! Turning self-control into an automated system really reduces the chance of procrastination. Do you think more people should create external ‘barriers’ like this to stay focused?

Such an excellent post! Thank you for sharing your insights — I’m excited to see what you post next.

This is a very creative and smart way to use the app. Your idea shows great discipline and motivation, and it’s inspiring how you turned a risky setup into a powerful productivity tool.