Rules Settings
The Rules page of the Settings window includes options to automatically skip breaks when specified apps are frontmost or just open, or when calendar events match, specified criteria, or script-based conditions match, and more.
Click the Add (+) button in the top-right corner to add a new rule. It shows a menu of the different kinds of rules that can be added.
The Add menu shows built-in rules and installed scripts. Choose Browse Scripts... to search the catalog and read descriptions, requirements, and setup instructions. Click Get to download a script, then Add to add it as a rule. Getting a script leaves the browser open so you can download several before adding one.
Time Out asks for access to its Application Scripts folder when needed. If access is cancelled or a download fails, click Get to try again. If the folder is missing, Get or Reveal Scripts offers to recreate it. Once installed, Open lets you edit the script; Reveal Scripts opens the folder in the Finder. Existing installed and custom scripts are preserved. Choose File > Reload Rules while this page is selected to refresh its catalog and page.
Each rule includes a checkbox to enable or disable it, so you can turn one off without removing it.
Application rules show the path under the app name; if it isn't all visible, hover over the path to reveal the full location (or make the window wider).
App rules also support "is" / "isn't", to reverse the "open" / "frontmost" option, e.g. to skip a break if some app isn't being used.
Calendar Events rules group your calendars by account, if you have multiple accounts. Choose the calendar to use, and optionally enter text to look for in events. You can add any number of calendar rules.
Another built-in rule is Fullscreen Active, to detect when the frontmost app is fullscreen. Useful when watching videos.
Script-based rules are also supported. Time Out can look in the Rules folder inside its Application Scripts folder, and any scripts there can be added as rules.
A number of script-based rules are available to download, e.g. FaceTime Meeting, Teams Meeting, and Zoom Meeting to detect when actively in a meeting via FaceTime, Teams, or Zoom, and Valve Game to detect when using a Valve / Steam game, since they don't always appear as normal apps. More scripts will be added over time, and you are welcome to add and/or contribute your own.
Script rules support "is true" / "is false", so the script result can be used normally or reversed.
All rules include a menu for what to do when the rule matches:
- Automatically skip: this rule will be evaluated when a break is due, and if it matches, the break will be skipped.
- Postpone: this rule will also be evaluated when a break is due; if it matches, the break will be postponed by the specified interval.
- Ignore natural break: when a natural break is detected (the Mac is idle), and this rule matches, the natural break will not be taken. Useful when you're passively watching a video, to make sure you still get breaks.
- Treat as natural break: when this rule matches, the app will act as though it is idle, even if you're actively using it. Useful when you're doing something that is equivalent to a break, like playing a relaxing game instead of working.
The Fullscreen Active and script-based rules, conditions, and natural break actions are all available as rewards for supporters.