Customizing Your Focus Settings
Focus Settings
Focus Zone settings
Alert me about upcoming Focus Zones
Sends an Assistant alert when a Focus Zone is approaching and gives you the option to start a Focus Session. Turn this off if you find the nudges disruptive and prefer to manage your own focus windows.
Block websites during Focus Zones
Automatically blocks Personal and Distracting sites when a Focus Zone begins, without requiring you to start a Focus Session. When you visit a blocked site during a Focus Zone, you'll see the Focus Zone block page with three options: start a Focus Session, continue to the site anyway, or turn off blocking for this zone.
Automatic session for distraction limits
Automatically starts a Focus Session when you exceed the set limit on Personal and Distracting time. The default threshold is 30 minutes; click the edit icon to change it. This is a harder enforcement option for people who want a limit that actually kicks in, rather than just an alert.
💡 These settings work independently. You can get Focus Zone alerts without enabling blocking, and you can enable blocking without the automatic session for distraction limits. Mix and match to find what fits your work style.
Focus Session settings
Default Focus Session length
The duration pre-selected when you start a Focus Session through the distraction alert. The default duration is 30 minutes, but can be changed by clicking the edit icon. Manually triggered sessions override the default Focus Session length.
Default Focus Session blocking
The blocking level pre-selected when a Focus Session starts automatically:
- No blocking: Nothing is blocked; tracking continues normally
- Block distracting sites and apps: Blocks apps and websites you've classified as Personal or Distracting
- Block distracting + communication sites and apps: Also blocks anything categorized as a communication app, including email and chat, even if classified as productive work
Preview your block list
Shows exactly which apps and websites would be blocked as distracting or personal activities. A useful check before your first session to make sure nothing important is blocked unexpectedly.
Blocking Exceptions
Add specific sites or apps that should never be blocked during Focus Sessions, regardless of how they're categorized.
Allow Unblocking
When on, you can click through the block page and unblock a site or app during a Focus Session. Turn this off for strict blocking and the block page will not offer an option to continue to the blocked site.
Communication blocking catches everything in that category. If you choose to block distracting and communication apps, every activity categorized as a communication app is blocked during the session, including any you've listed as Focus Work.
Music integration
You can connect Spotify Premium to play music during Focus Sessions.
Connecting Spotify
Click + add a music streaming service and sign in to Spotify to grant permissions. A Spotify Premium account is required. Once connected, your Spotify playlists appear as an option when starting a Focus Session.
Using music during a session
Choose a playlist when you set up a Focus Session. During the session, a music bar appears at the bottom of the Assistant to pause or play. You must be logged into Spotify for this feature to work.
💡 The Assistant only recognizes playlists that are added to your Spotify profile. To add one: open Spotify, find the playlist, click the three-dot menu, and choose Add to profile. It will then appear as an option during Focus Session setup. To remove the integration, go to Focus Settings and click the gear icon next to your connected service and choose Remove service.
Notification Settings
Alert settings
These toggles control which behavioral Assistant alerts you receive. Configure them at Account Settings → Notifications.
Focus Zone Alert
Notifies you when you're entering an optimal Focus Zone. This is the same toggle as "Alert me about upcoming Focus Zones" in Focus Settings.
Attention Alert
Fires when RescueTime notices you're context-switching more than usual, a sign that distractions and interruptions are fragmenting your focus. Turn this on if you want a real-time nudge when your attention starts to scatter.
Balance Alert
Fires when you spend more than 30 minutes working outside your scheduled work hours. Useful for people who want a reminder to stop working when their day is done.
Meeting Reminders
Notifies you about upcoming meetings from your connected calendar, with a Join Meeting link if the event contains a Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams URL. Requires a connected Google or Outlook calendar.
Data Absence Alert
Sends an email notification after days with unusually little activity logged. Off by default. Useful for catching situations where the app has crashed, paused unexpectedly, or isn't tracking correctly. You'll know before it affects a full week of data.
💡 These toggles control whether an alert appears in your Assistant feed. For desktop notifications to appear for other types of alerts, RescueTime notifications must also be enabled in your OS settings. See Enabling Notifications for setup instructions.
