App of the Day: Focus Friend
BYÂ JAMEY TUCKER, Consumer Technology Reporter
I think we can all agree that we need to take a break from our phones. The hard part? Actually putting them down.
No matter what we’re doing, it only takes a buzz or ringtone to break your concentration. This smartphone app called “Focus Finder” uses a bean to help you take a break from your phone and get stuff done.
It’s a simple app, the graphics may look a little dorky but that adds to the charm. When you start a focus session, a little bean appears on the screen and gets to work knitting socks. But only if you put the phone down.
I’ll set a timer for 20-minutes. As long as I don’t pick it up, Bean keeps knitting. If I reach for email or texts, he pops up to ask if I’m sure, and warns he’ll be sad if I stop.
That little bit of guilt is surprisingly motivating.
There’s also a deep-focus mode that turns off notifications and blocks distracting apps until the timer is up. The app was developed for people with ADHD by author Hank Green but it’ll help anyone stay focused.
I’ve found whether you’re writing, studying, or just taking a dog-gone break, the little bean with
knitting needle,might be the helper you need.
