KeyRoutines
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How to start a focus timer that closes distracting apps

Make a KeyRoutines routine with a Hotkey trigger, Close app for your distracting apps, Quiet mode turned on for 25 minutes, a Delay of 25 minutes, and Speak text plus Show banner when the time is up.

Steps

  1. 1

    Add a Hotkey trigger

    Pick a chord such as Ctrl+Alt+F.

  2. 2

    Close the distractions

    Add Close app for Discord, Steam or whatever pulls you away.

  3. 3

    Go quiet

    Add Quiet mode set to on, with For set to 25 minutes so it turns off by itself.

  4. 4

    Wait out the block

    Add a Delay of 25 minutes.

  5. 5

    Call the break

    Add Speak text "Time for a break" and Show banner, then Open app if you want the apps back.

Tips

  • If you set a time limit on the routine, make it longer than the timer.
  • Press the panic hotkey or cancel the run in the tray to end the block early.

Questions

Can it repeat for several rounds?
Yes. Put the steps in a Repeat with four rounds and add a 5-minute Delay for each break.
Does it block websites?
No. KeyRoutines closes apps; it doesn't block websites.

Blocks this routine uses

Trigger · HotkeysFree

Hotkey

Hotkey starts a routine when you press a keyboard shortcut or mouse button. It's the most common way to run a routine, from a single app launcher key to a whole streaming setup on one combination.

Step · AppsFree

Close app

Close app shuts down the programs you pick, or every open app except the ones you want to keep. People put it at the end of a work session, before a game, or anywhere a cluttered taskbar gets in the way.

Step · NotificationsFree

Quiet mode

Quiet mode turns KeyRoutines' own quiet mode on, off, or the other way round. It's made for Gaming Mode and focus routines, so KeyRoutines doesn't pop up while you're busy.

Step · Flow and routinesFree

Delay

Delay pauses the routine for a time you choose before the next step runs. People add it after opening an app, between key presses, or anywhere a program needs a moment to react.

Step · NotificationsFree

Speak text

Speak text reads a sentence aloud using a voice installed in Windows. It's ideal for updates you want to hear rather than see, like "Stream is live" in your headset.

Step · NotificationsFree

Show banner

Show banner puts a large text message on screen for a set time. Unlike a Windows notification, it still shows when a borderless full-screen app is in front, and it never takes the mouse or keyboard.

More how-to guides

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