Custom wellness reminders is already on the roadmap and it's the most requested feature so you can expect it in the next few updates.

The license gives you lifetime access to LookAway - you can keep using it forever. You only pay for updates after a year if there's something new you may want to use.

LookAway is a native break reminder for macOS that doesn't interrupt. I built it because I work from home and I spend a lot of time in front of my screens. It's very easy for me to get lost in the flow and I can end up sitting for hours. Due to this, I started facing issues like eye strain and back pain by the end of the day.

The solution to this was simply taking enough breaks throughout the day. But remembering to take breaks was difficult, especially when I was in the flow. I tried some reminder apps but the problem with those was that they always interrupted me at the worst moments. So I ended up not using them.

LookAway is designed not to interrupt. It gives enough heads up before a break so that you're not caught off-guard. It's also context-aware and it automatically pauses when you go into a meeting, start watching a video, record screen, and much more. It even waits for you to finish typing or dictating when a break is due.

One thing worth mentioning is the free iOS counterpart LookAway Mirror. When your Mac goes on a break, your iOS devices can also mirror the same break so you don't end up scrolling your phone screen during the Mac break.

I've spent a lot of time in making LookAway the least annoying break reminder app and I would love to know your thoughts. It's a native Swift app so it doesn't take much resources (150MB RAM and <1% CPU when idle).

It's available to download from the website (lookaway.com), Setapp, and the App Store. Thank you!

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48659483

Points: 77

# Comments: 26

Right now I'm focused on the stats side. It already shows how much time you spend in each app, and I'm adding website tracking too, which should make the picture much more useful.

I'm also working on better break timing for dictation. LookAway already delays a due break if you're in the middle of typing, so it does not interrupt at a bad time. Now I'm trying to extend that same behavior to dictation as well, which turns out to be a pretty interesting detection problem because it overlaps with some of the other context signals I already use.

Most of the challenge is making it smarter without making it feel more intrusive.

I’m the solo dev behind LookAway, a macOS app that reminds you to take breaks.

I built it because I spend most of my day in front of a screen, and I noticed that a lot of break reminder apps kind of fail in the same way: they do help, but they also interrupt you at the worst possible time. After a few days people just start snoozing everything or turn them off.

I just released LookAway 2.0, which is a pretty major update.

A lot of the work in this version went into making the app behave less like a timer and more like something that understands when to back off a bit.

Some things that changed:

- i added a stats system, so it can track sessions, natural breaks, break adherence, daily totals, and a screen score

- it now shows where you spend your screen-time including apps, as well as things like meetings or watching videos, etc

- it can automatically pause / delay reminders in more situations now, like meetings, active mic usage, screen recording, games, video playback, etc

- there’s now a proper heads-up flow before breaks

- stricter break controls if you want enforcement instead of just gentle nudges

- redesigned menu bar / quick controls

I’m still iterating on the balance between being helpful and being annoying. That part is honestly the whole product.

Happy to answer any questions!

- Kushagra

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47673524

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

At one point I even built a live sales dashboard[1] to keep my dopamine in check, but a year later I realized it was a mistake. It started shaping my motivation instead of supporting it.

I guess the main lesson is that the ups and downs are normal, and you get better at riding them over the years.

[1]: https://x.com/kushsolitary/status/1777306909344715158

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46000690

Points: 2

# Comments: 1

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45442013

Points: 3

# Comments: 1

1: https://lookaway.com

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45267061

Points: 1

# Comments: 0