A Pomodoro timer and break reminders from a desktop pet

Pomodoro timer

Start a focus session from the menu bar or system tray, or from Settings. A small pixel timer floats beside the capybara and counts down your focus period. When it ends he announces your break, then reminds you when it is time to get back to work. Focus and rest lengths are yours to set (the classic 25 and 5 minutes by default).

Stretch reminders

Every so often (every 45 minutes by default) he grows to full size, closes his eyes and gives a big yawning stretch, with a speech bubble asking you to stretch too. Click him to dismiss it. If you turn on Peek mode, he pops up from the bottom of the screen just for the reminder, then tucks away again.

Water reminders

A different animation, a happy hop and a squeak, tells you to have a sip of water. If you give him your name he uses it: "Alex, have a sip of water!"

Your own messages

• Timed messages: pick a time and a text, for example "Standup in 5 minutes".
• Pinned note: keep one important line above his head all day.
• Sound on or off, with a soft chirp when a reminder appears.

Why it works better than a notification

System notifications slide away in seconds. A character that is always on your screen, animated and slightly funny, stays noticeable without being annoying. He also reads your activity: after a minute of no input he starts getting sleepy, and if you are typing furiously he reacts, so he feels like part of your workspace, not an alarm.

Capybara Pet is available for Mac and Windows. See pricing.