Breaks

Why Breaks Matter

Your brain isn’t a machine (though Set might make you feel superhuman). Regular breaks help you stay focused, avoid burnout, and actually get more done. Plus, there are 4 break achievements to unlock, from “Break Starter” to “Break Guru”, because self-care deserves recognition.

Adding Breaks

  1. Tap Add Break from the ellipsis menu in Today view
  2. Choose a duration: 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45 minutes, or 1, 1.5, 2 hours
  3. The break is inserted after the selected task in your timeline

Add-break mode stays active after you place one, so the + Add break buttons remain between your tasks and you can add several in a row. Tap Add Break again to leave the mode.

Breaks are scheduled just like tasks, keeping your timeline accurate while building in rest.

Using Breaks

  • Timer View: Breaks appear in the Timer alongside tasks. Time them like any other task and mark them complete when finished.
  • Edit Duration: Swipe right on a break in today view to adjust its length
  • Notifications: Get notified when breaks start and end (configure in Settings → Notifications). A break timer also fires a background Time’s Up alert when it reaches its estimate.
  • Logging: Swipe-to-log applies to completed tasks only, not breaks.

Automatic Cleanup

Set tidies up breaks for you. All breaks clear when your day is complete or when every task is removed, and any stale breaks left over from previous days are cleared automatically, so your timeline never fills up with orphaned breaks.

Break Timing for ADHD Minds

While everyone’s rhythms differ, research suggests ADHD brains thrive with:

Short Focus Bursts

  • 25 to 30 minutes work + 5-minute break (Pomodoro style)
  • 45 to 50 minutes work + 10 to 15-minute break (stronger focus mode)

Midday Reset After 2 to 3 hours of cumulative work, take a longer 30 to 45 minute break to reset dopamine levels and prevent afternoon crashes. Perfect for moving, eating, or getting light exposure.

Microbreaks Every hour or two, even a 1 to 2 minute pause (standing, stretching, breathing) reduces overwhelm and prevents hyperfocus burnout.

The Key: Consistency over length. Knowing “a break is always coming soon” keeps focus sustainable.

As you take more breaks, you’ll unlock achievements: “Break Starter” at 5 breaks, “Break Taker” at 25, “Break Master” at 50, and finally “Break Guru” at 100. Click the trophy icon in the Statistics view to view your achievements.