HealthWize - WorkSmart for Windows

User Reviews

• Perfect solution for both mental and physical tension

  TEMadsenNovember 21, 2012

  Pros

  Extremely simple and easy to use, with a few options to customize work and break times, what type of exercises you're most interested in, whether your personal trainer is male or female, etc. Works exactly as described, default is based on the 25 min "pomodoro" work session and 5 minute break. Compact window (or even smaller text option) with option to stay on top of all other windows. Obvious alert noise and pop-up stretching recommendations end each work session. End of break time is signaled by another alert noise, but you have to go click the "play" button to start the next "pomodoro" - meaning it doesn't just start counting work time when you've left your desk or something.

  Cons

  I haven't found a way to change the alert sound, which reminds me of a school bell.

  Summary

  I have trouble staying on task when looking at a full day's work, so this helps me break it down into manageable chunks. I can focus on work for 25 minutes, then have a 5 minute break to check email or whatever else comes up. I also have a tendency to get stuck on one task that will never be perfect or that there are a million different ways to try doing, and the breaks give me a chance to reassess my priorities and decide if this is really the best use of my limited time (do I want to spend the next "pomodoro" on this, or should I take this opportunity to switch gears?). Finally, I tend to have bad posture while working intensely, and stress brings on awful muscle spasms in my upper back and neck, so the stretching exercises are *extremely* helpful in avoiding a lot of pain. In short, this is exactly what I was looking for, plus an extra feature that I didn't know I was looking for but is perfect for me! I had tried several other timers, some based on the pomodoro technique and others based on other methods to help you focus, but they either lacked features I wanted, had too many features that just made it over complicated and distracting, or just didn't work. This one is perfect.

  ---

• Show reviewsHide reviews
• Rate it