How to Set Up an Afternoon Routine in Focus Bear

Understanding Shutdown Times in Focus Bear

There are two shutdown times to set up in the Focus Bear settings:

1. Shutdown Time ("What time do you finish work?")

   • Set your preferred time here to start your afternoon routine. At this point, Focus Bear will take over your computer and other devices, guiding you through your evening routine to help you wind down. You can unlock the computer if needed, but try to avoid distractions that might interfere with your relaxation.
     

2. Cut-off Time/Wind Down Time ("What time do you start winding down to sleep?")

   • This setting is found by clicking "Advance." You can set the time for your evening routine here. At this point, Focus Bear will only prompt you to complete high-priority activities or those labeled as "Must Do."
     
     

Priority Labels in Your Habits: "Must Do" and "Optional"

• Must Do: If an activity is essential and needs to be completed regularly, label it as "Must Do." After the wind-down time, you'll get a reminder to complete these important tasks, ensuring they are done even if you haven't finished everything else in your routine.
• Optional: For tasks that are not mandatory but can be included based on your availability and preference, label them as "Optional." These tasks won't be prompted after the cut-off/wind-down time, providing flexibility to complete them based on your schedule and priorities.

Setting Up Times for Afternoon and Evening Routines

Creating a structured afternoon routine can boost your productivity and well-being. With Focus Bear, setting up this routine is straightforward. Follow these simple steps to get started:

1. Click on the Focus Bear icon on the taskbar to open the app menu.
   
2. Click on Preferences and navigate to the Edit Habits tab.
   
   
3. Decide when you want your afternoon routine to begin by setting the shutdown time or by answering the question, “What time do you finish work?” This time should be based on your personal schedule. For example, you might choose 1:30 PM to start.
   
   
4. For the evening routine, click on the Advance button and set your preferred time to start your wind-down routine. For example, you might choose 5:00 PM.
   
   

Editing Habits for Your Afternoon and Evening Routines

After setting your shutdown and wind-down times, follow these steps to edit your afternoon and evening routines:

1. Under the Edit Habits tab, navigate to Evening Routine.
2. Click on the plus (+) icon to add a new habit.
   
   
3. Add your habit’s name and set the duration time if you want to use a timer or disable the Use Timer button to add a completion requirement based on your habit's needs.
   
   
4. Click More Options to customize your habits.
   
   
5. Under the Timing tab, click on Priority.
   
   
6. For your afternoon routine, choose Optional, then click the Save button to save the changes.
   For your evening routine, follow the same steps but label it as Must Do.
   
7. Customize your habits further with the available settings. You can learn more about habit settings on this page.
   
   
8. After setting up your shutdown and wind-down times and editing your afternoon and evening habits, don’t forget to click Save and Restart to save your changes.
   
   

By following these steps, you can effectively manage your afternoon and evening routines in Focus Bear, ensuring a balanced and productive day.