Raycast Focus helps you stay in flow and get more done by blocking out distractions on your Mac. Define your goal, set a duration to focus and block out distracting apps and websites.
The Raycast Focus experience comes with two commands:
- Start Focus Session: This command opens a form to configure your focus session.
- Toggle Focus Session: This command allows you to toggle between starting or completing a focus session. Starting will use the previously used setup.
While you're in a session, there are 3 additional commands:
- Edit Focus Session: This command allows you to edit your current focus session.
- Complete Focus Session: This command allows you to complete your current focus session.
- Pause Focus Session: This command allows you to pause your current focus session.
Pro Tip: We recommend assigning a hotkey to the Toggle Focus Session command for quicker access to start / complete a focus session. A commonly used hotkey is ^ F.
Open Raycast → Settings → Extensions → Raycast Notes to record a hotkey.
Starting
Begin by starting a new focus session. This can be something broad like “Coding Session” or a more granular task you want to complete.
- Define your goal for the session.
- Then set a duration, this can be anything from 5 minutes to an entire day. You can also use natural language to define a timeframe like
until 4:30pm. - Finally enter the distracting apps or websites you want to block out for the duration of your focus session. We’ve defined some categories to make this easier to block out things like Social Media or News sites.
Tracking
Focus Bar
The Focus Bar will float above all your windows, subtly reminding you to stay focus throughout. You can keep track of your progress, pause, complete or manage your focus session.
Menu Bar
If the Focus Bar isn’t to your liking, you can use the more discrete Menu Bar item instead. Hover the Focus Bar, and click Move to Menu Bar under the more menu.
Blocking
Any app or website you defined in your block list will quit immediately when the session starts.
If you stumble on a blocked app during your session, you’ll be presented with an orange glow and toast to notify you. Blocked websites will be redirected to a block page.
If you really need to access blocked content, you have the option to snooze. By default this is set to 3 minutes. You can customize this in Raycast Settings → Extensions.
After the snooze period you’ll see the blocked overlay. The app will quit after you switch focus.
Editing
Need to add more time, or block additional apps/websites? You can edit a focus session at any time. Use the Edit Focus Session command, or hover the floating bar and use the Edit action under the more menu.
Taking a break
If you need a break from your session, you can easily pause your session if something urgent comes up, or you need to make a brew. You can use one of the predefined break options, helping you to step away but ready to nudge you when to jump back in.
Completing
If you’ve managed to finish your task before the clock hits zero, you can manually complete your focus session. You’ll be greeted by a celebratory green glow and toast.
Your session will auto-complete after the set duration. You’ll be presented with the same green glow, but with the option to extend your session, or complete it.
