How to Use NatureTimer
Your complete guide to healthier, more productive work sessions
🚀 Getting Started
Quick Setup in 3 Steps
- Set Your Work Duration: Click the Settings button and choose how long you want to work (default is 4 hours).
- Choose Your Reminders: Select which health reminders you want to receive during your work session.
- Start Working: Click the Start button and focus on your tasks. NatureTimer will remind you to take healthy breaks!
📹 Video tutorial coming soon!
💡 First-Time User Tip
Start with shorter sessions (1-2 hours) to get familiar with the break rhythm. You can always adjust the duration as you find your ideal work-break balance.
✨ Key Features
Customizable Timer
Set work sessions from 1 minute to 12 hours. Perfect for any work style or schedule.
Smart Reminders
Get timely notifications for water, movement, eye rest, and more. Stay healthy while staying productive.
Progress Tracking
Monitor your completed sessions and total focus time. Build healthy habits with data.
Custom Reminders
Create your own reminders for medications, meetings, or any personal needs.
Audio Alerts
Choose from multiple notification sounds or work in silent mode.
Works Everywhere
Use on any device with a web browser. No installation required!
⚙️ Settings Guide
Session Duration
Set how long you want to work before taking a longer break. You can set:
- Hours: 0-12 hours
- Minutes: 0-59 minutes
Example: For a 90-minute work session, set 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Notification Sounds
Choose from these options:
- 🔔 Gentle Bell: A soft, pleasant chime
- 🎵 Musical Chime: A melodic notification
- 🌊 Nature Sound: Calming natural tones
- 🔇 Silent: Visual notifications only
💡 Settings Tip
Always save your settings before starting a timer! The app will remind you if you forget.
💡 Understanding Break Reminders
Built-in Health Reminders
👁️ Eye Rest (Every 20 minutes)
Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Look at something 20 feet (6 meters) away for 20 seconds. This helps prevent eye strain and digital eye fatigue.
💧 Hydration & Posture (Every 30 minutes)
Take a sip of water and check your posture. Proper hydration and good posture are essential for long-term health.
🏃 Movement Break (Every 45 minutes)
Stand up and do 10 squats, walk around, or do light stretches. Movement prevents muscle stiffness and improves circulation.
🌬️ Breathing & Stretch (Every 60 minutes)
Take 5 deep breaths or do a quick stretch routine. This reduces stress and refreshes your mind.
⏰ Extended Break (Every 90 minutes)
Take a 5-15 minute break. Walk outside, have a healthy snack, or do something completely different from work.
❤️ Gratitude Practice (Every 4 hours)
Reflect on what you're grateful for. This optional reminder helps maintain positive mental health.
Creating Custom Reminders
- Click "Add Custom Reminder" in settings
- Enter your reminder message (e.g., "Take medication")
- Set the interval in minutes (1-1440)
- Save your settings
🎯 Pro Tips for Maximum Productivity
Best Practices
- Keep the tab open: For the most accurate timing, keep NatureTimer open in a browser tab.
- Enable notifications: Allow browser notifications for reminders even when the tab is in the background.
- Start small: Begin with shorter work sessions and gradually increase as you build focus stamina.
- Honor the breaks: When a reminder appears, actually take the break. Your body and mind will thank you!
- Customize for your needs: Everyone works differently. Adjust reminder intervals to match your personal rhythm.
Power User Features
- Multiple timers: Open NatureTimer in different browser tabs for different types of work.
- Session planning: Use the 90-minute extended break as a natural session boundary.
- Mobile friendly: Add NatureTimer to your phone's home screen for quick access.
🏆 Productivity Hack
Combine NatureTimer with the Pomodoro Technique: Set 25-minute sessions with 5-minute breaks. After 4 sessions, take a longer 15-30 minute break.
⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts
Speed up your workflow with these handy shortcuts:
| Key | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| S | Start/Resume | Start a new timer or resume a paused one |
| P | Pause | Pause the current timer |
| R | Reset | Reset the timer to initial duration |
| Esc | Close | Close settings or other dialogs |
Note: Shortcuts won't work when typing in input fields.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Will the timer work if I close my browser?
No, the timer needs the browser tab to remain open. However, it will work in the background if you switch to other tabs or minimize the browser.
Can I use NatureTimer offline?
Once loaded, NatureTimer works offline for the current session. However, you need an internet connection to initially load the app.
How do I enable browser notifications?
When you first start a timer, your browser will ask for permission to send notifications. Click "Allow" to enable them. You can change this in your browser settings later.
Is my data saved?
Yes, your settings and statistics are saved locally in your browser. No data is sent to any server, ensuring your privacy.
Can I export my session data?
Currently, you can view your session count and total focus time. Export features are planned for a future update.
The timer seems inaccurate. What should I do?
Make sure to keep the browser tab open and your computer awake. Some browsers may throttle background tabs to save resources.