Any.do was created to help you organize your life and boost your productivity, but staying focused can be challenging with countless distractions around you. That’s why we introduced Focus Mode—a simple and enjoyable way to concentrate on what truly matters.
With Focus Mode, you set a timer for any task you want to dedicate time to complete. As the timer counts down, a tree begins to grow on your phone. If you get distracted and try to open a game or another app, the tree will wither away, encouraging you to stay on track. The more time you invest in your tasks, the more trees you add to your forest, serving as a powerful visual motivator. Additionally, you can activate a white-noise option and view your growing forest to see how much progress you’ve made.
Focus Mode is currently available in mobile devices only, for personal tasks (not board tasks).
Focus Mode is available exclusively in our upgraded plans (Premium, Family, and Workspace). Try it out today with any of our trial plans 🤓
🚀 How to launch Focus Mode
Launching Focus Mode is simple for both Android and iOS users right from your Task Menu. Once launched, Focus Mode will help you stay concentrated by growing a virtual tree as you work, providing a visual incentive to keep distractions at bay.
To launch, simply open of your personal tasks and:
Tap on the 3 dots menu on the top left
Tap on "Start Focus mode"\"Start Focus".
Set the timer to amount desired
Tap "Start Focus"
Note: In order for the feature to run properly on your Android device, make sure that Any.do is allowed to run in the background and is not optimized by your battery. On certain devices users might also need to lock the app from the Applications Menu.
🌲 How to view your forest
The more time you invest in your tasks, the more trees you add to your forest, serving as a powerful visual motivator for your productivity. This feature allows you to see all the trees you've cultivated, reflecting the time and focus you've dedicated to your tasks.
Whether you need a quick boost of motivation or want to track your progress over time, your forest is always available to inspire and encourage your continued focus. You can view your growing forest anytime by tapping the tree icon after launching Focus Mode.
🎧 How to activate white-noise
The white-noise feature is perfect for those who need an extra boost to maintain focus. Once activated, white-noise will play continuously for the duration of your set focus timer, helping to block out distractions and enhance your concentration. This feature ensures a more immersive and productive work session, keeping you centered on your tasks without interruptions.
To activate white-noise, simply connect your device to headphones or earphones and tap the headphones icon after launching Focus Mode. To disable the white noise, simply tap on the headphones icon once more.
Note: White noise is available with headphones only.
⌛ How to end your Focus Mode session
Focus Mode will automatically end once the timer runs out. However, if you're task is completed prior to the timer's end time, simply tap "I'm Done" within the Focus Mode interface to end the session and preserve the trees you've grown up to that point.
If you wish to close the feature without preserving your progress, just tap "Give Up" and the session will end.
💡 Note: exiting the app while Focus Mode is running will disable it immediately and your progress will be lost.
🎯 FAQs
🤔 What is Focus Mode in Any.do?
🤔 What is Focus Mode in Any.do?
Focus Mode is a feature designed to help you concentrate on your tasks by setting a timer and visualizing your progress through a growing virtual tree. It minimizes distractions and enhances your productivity by encouraging you to stay focused on the task at hand.
Focus Mode is available exclusively for mobile devices in our upgraded plans (Premium, Family, and Workspace) and is currently applicable to personal tasks only, not board tasks.
📱 Can I use Focus Mode on both Android and iOS devices?
📱 Can I use Focus Mode on both Android and iOS devices?
Yes, Focus Mode is available on both Android and iOS devices. Ensure you have the latest version of the Any.do app installed to access all Focus Mode features seamlessly.
💻 Can I use Focus Mode on Web/Desktop?
💻 Can I use Focus Mode on Web/Desktop?
Not at this time. The feature is available for mobile devices only.
⚡ What happens if I exit the app while Focus Mode is active?
⚡ What happens if I exit the app while Focus Mode is active?
If you exit the app or try to open another app while Focus Mode is active, the virtual tree will wither and die. This serves as a visual reminder to stay focused and avoid distractions.
🌲 How does the virtual tree in Focus Mode work?
🌲 How does the virtual tree in Focus Mode work?
As you work on a task in Focus Mode, a virtual tree grows in your forest. The more time you invest in your tasks, the more trees you add to your forest, providing a powerful visual motivator to keep you focused and productive.
🎧 Why can't I get the white noise to work?
🎧 Why can't I get the white noise to work?
You can activate the white-noise feature in Focus Mode by simply connecting your device to headphones or earphones and enabling the feature as detailed here. If you have connected your headphones/earphones and still can't get the white noise to work, please submit a bug report via our contact-form.
💳 Is Focus Mode available on all Any.do plans?
💳 Is Focus Mode available on all Any.do plans?
Focus Mode is available exclusively in our upgraded plans - Premium, Family, and Workspace (Teams). It is currently applicable to personal tasks only and is not available for board-tasks.
🔓 Do I need to keep my device unlocked to use Focus Mode?
🔓 Do I need to keep my device unlocked to use Focus Mode?
Not at all, you can turn off your screen when using the feature.
If you own an Android device, for Focus Mode to run properly ensure that Any.do is allowed to run in the background and is not optimized by your battery settings. On certain devices, you might also need to lock the app from the Applications Menu to prevent it from being closed automatically.
⩇⩇:⩇⩇ Can I customize the timer duration in Focus Mode?
⩇⩇:⩇⩇ Can I customize the timer duration in Focus Mode?
Yes, you can set the timer for any duration that suits your task. Choose the amount of time you want to dedicate to completing a task, and Focus Mode will track your progress accordingly.
✅ How do I end Focus Mode once I'm done with my task?
✅ How do I end Focus Mode once I'm done with my task?
Focus Mode will automatically end once the timer runs out. However, if you need to disable it earlier, simply tap "I'm Done" within the Focus Mode interface to end the session and preserve the trees you've grown up to that point. Alternatively, press "Give Up" to dismiss your progress.
🔢 Can multiple tasks be managed simultaneously in Focus Mode?
🔢 Can multiple tasks be managed simultaneously in Focus Mode?
Focus Mode is designed to focus on one task at a time. To manage multiple tasks, activate Focus Mode separately for each task, ensuring you give each one the dedicated attention it deserves.
🧩 Does Focus Mode integrate with other Any.do features?
🧩 Does Focus Mode integrate with other Any.do features?
Yes, Focus Mode integrates seamlessly with other Any.do features like My Day and the Calendar. You can easily launch Focus Mode from those screens by simply pressing on any of your tasks and following the instructions here.
🧐 How does Focus Mode help improve my productivity?
🧐 How does Focus Mode help improve my productivity?
Focus Mode enhances productivity by providing a structured approach to task management. The visual motivation of growing trees, combined with the timer and white-noise options, helps you maintain focus, reduce distractions, and achieve your goals more efficiently.