Focus Companion — Smart Break Reminders for Deep Work
Start a focus session with smart reminders for water, eye breaks, and stretching.
About this tool
Stay healthy during long focus sessions. Get gentle reminders to drink water every 45 minutes, take an eye break every 20 minutes, and stretch every hour. Works in your browser with no sign-up needed.
The Science Behind the Reminders
The 20-20-20 rule — every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds — is recommended by ophthalmologists to reduce digital eye strain. Water reminders target the 45-minute mark, when mild dehydration begins to affect concentration. Hourly stretch reminders counteract the health effects of prolonged sitting.
Why Timer-Based Reminders Fail
Most reminder apps use countdown timers that pause or reset when you switch tabs. Focus Companion uses time-difference tracking — recording when each reminder last fired and checking against the current time — so reminders are delivered correctly even after 30 minutes in a different tab.
timerWorks in Background Tabs
Focus Companion uses time-difference tracking instead of a countdown, so reminders fire precisely even when you are in a different browser tab or window. Switch tabs freely — your reminders keep running.
Browser notifications fire reliably even when you switch tabs — no more missed water breaks during deep work.
Quick Usage Guide
- 1Time-diff based reminder engine — reliable even in background tabs
- 2Browser notifications when tab is hidden, toasts when visible
- 3Snooze reminders for 5 or 10 minutes
- 4Session summary showing completion stats
Frequently Asked Questions
help_outlineWhat reminders does Focus Companion send?
You get reminders to drink water every 45 minutes, take an eye break (20-20-20 rule) every 20 minutes, and stretch every 60 minutes during your focus session.
verifiedDo notifications work when I switch browser tabs?
Yes. Focus Companion uses time-difference tracking so reminders fire reliably even in background tabs, delivering browser notifications when the tab is not in focus.
quizCan I snooze reminders?
Yes, you can snooze any reminder for 5 or 10 minutes if you need to finish a thought before taking a break.
account_balance_walletDoes it require an account or app installation?
No. Focus Companion runs entirely in your browser with no sign-up, no download, and no installation required.