Stretchly is cross-platform open source app that reminds you to take breaks when working with computer. By default, it runs in your tray and shows reminder window every 10 minutes, that is open for 20 seconds, containing idea for microbreak. Every 30 minutes, it shows window containing idea for longer 5 minute break. Download stretchly - Remind yourself to take a break every once in a while when working on your PC, with the help of a minimalistic application that displays notifications at regular intervals.
Download1 ScreenshotsNo review
No Video
A lightweight application that makes sure you take a break from working on your PC by sending you notifications at custom intervals
A lightweight application that makes sure you take a break from working on your PC by sending you notifications at custom intervalsStretchy Mac And Cheese
stretchly is a small and intuitive application designed to remind you to take a break at regular intervals from working in front of your computer.
Once you launch the app it will automatically start to time your work and break intervals. It runs in the system tray so it won’t bother you while you’re using your PC.
Stretchy Mochi
The timer can be paused by right-clicking the system train icon. When stretchly sends notifications they’ll be displayed on top of all other windows and you can dismiss it at any moment.
Furthermore, the application will provide useful health advice and various exercises you can try during your breaks. Speaking of, users can define how long should the breaks and microbreaks last, as well as their frequency.
Once the break period comes to an end, stretchly will play a sound and you can customize it from the list of built-in audio files.
- License:
- Platform:
- Publisher:
- File size:
- Updated:
- User Rating:
- Editors' Review:
- Downloads:
Stretchly is an open-source tool which reminds you to take regular breaks from your computer (Windows, Linux, Mac).
Like all Electron-based programs, Stretchly is huge (134MB). But you've probably got enough space for it somewhere, and at least it doesn't require installation: you can unzip it and go.
Stretchly is designed to be easy to use, so doesn't open with a bulky scheduling dialog. Instead it adds an icon to your system tray and leaves you to work as normal.
After 10 minutes (by default) the program displays a message with an idea for a 20-second 'microbreak'. This might be a suggestion to focus your eyes on something distant, stand up and stretch your arms, or you might get a thoughtful comment on the value of mindfulness.
After a couple of microbreaks you're prompted to take a longer break, maybe 5 or 10 minutes.
Stretchly does its best to be flexible. If you've just taken a 'microbreak' of your own - grabbed a coffee, walked to the printer - you can tell the program to skip to the next microbreak. It'll restart its timer and you won't get an annoying alert 10 seconds after you've sat back down.
These timings can be reconfigured from a Settings dialog. You're able to set the length of breaks and microbreaks, how frequently they should happen, whether you're forced to have them or they can be skipped, and whether they're enabled at all (you could have breaks only and ignore microbreaks, for instance).
If the program is still annoying, you can pause the break reminders for a period, or close the program and work as usual. (It's just a regular Windows application, there's no background Windows service or anything else to get in your way.)
What's new in 0.21.1 (see changelog for more)?
Stretchy Mchandsome
- Italian translations updated
- break window is shown on all Workspaces in macOS
- Improved readability of English text
- user can set volume for break sounds (set via Settings file or Contributor's settings)
- user can set time after which breaks are paused in Natural Break (set via Settings file or Contributor's settings)
- texts appearing on top of each other in Settings for Chinese
Verdict:
We've seen plenty of similar applications, but Stretchly stands out in several ways. The idea of taking frequent, very short 'microbreaks' makes a lot of sense; it's good to see the program offer different suggestions for each one (not the same old alert screen); and stretchly manages to be very configurable without also being complex. Take a look.