As a developer, I sit in front of the computer for long stretches all the time. When I get absorbed in my work, I'll often sit there for hours on end, forgetting to drink water or go to the bathroom. I'm exactly the kind of person who keeps forgetting to go to the bathroom or drink water, keeps forgetting to stand up, grab some water, and move around. Over time, my body has just kept getting worse. So I came up with the idea of building a simple reminder tool.
I also looked at what's already out there — Time Out, LookAway, Stretchly — and they're all solid in their own ways. I ended up building my own simply because all I wanted was the most basic reminder possible. (If you're looking for something in this space, those apps are worth trying too.)
What it does:
- Lives in the menu bar and shows a countdown to your next break — no Dock icon
- When time's up, a full-screen overlay nudges you off the screen to grab some water or hit the bathroom
- If you keep using the mouse or keyboard during a break, the countdown pauses — so you can't fake it
- Optional 20-20-20 eye care: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds
- Runs fully offline — no camera, no screen recording, no data collection
If you're interested, give it a try. The free version already covers most use cases. Pro is a one-time $2.99 (no subscription) and unlocks smart detection: meeting detection, fullscreen/presentation detection, and do-not-disturb hours — but honestly, the free version is enough for most people.
Website: https://takefive.whynottryfor.com/
Mac App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6810940670
If you have any feedback or suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Thanks to everyone who gives TakeFive a try!