Work break reminders that fit your working day

Start with a cue you already have

You can start today by pairing a break with the end of a call, a completed task or another natural stopping point. If time slips past during focused work, a reminder can provide a separate cue. Choose a pace you can comfortably respond to rather than assuming one interval fits everyone.

A sample schedule, not a prescription

For a 9 am–5 pm workday, Pause’s default hourly schedule begins at 10 am and ends at 4 pm on weekdays. The first reminder is one interval after work begins, and the work-end time is excluded. This is an example of how the app schedules notifications, not medical advice about an ideal break frequency.

Set reminders in Pause

In the iPhone app, open Settings, turn on Remind me, choose your working days and hours, and tap Done. Pause asks for notification permission when you enable reminders. Reminders are optional and silent. Continued access after the first free completed break requires a Pause account and subscription.

If a reminder does not arrive

Check that reminders are on in Pause, that today is a selected working day and that the current time falls inside your schedule. Then check Pause’s notification permission in iPhone Settings and your Focus settings. iOS controls delivery; a scheduled reminder is not a guarantee of an immediate alert.

Have one small action ready

When a cue arrives, put down the keyboard and choose a movement, a short walk or a breathing break. If you cannot stop safely or practically, take a break at your next opportunity. Change the schedule if it regularly interrupts the wrong moments; you can also turn reminders off.

Common questions