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Workrave is desktop software that tracks keyboard and mouse activity and reminds you to pause during computer use. It has three adjustable timers: microbreaks, longer rest breaks, and a daily computer-use limit. Its timing examples are starting points in the software’s documentation, not medical recommendations; Workrave’s FAQ says suitable settings differ from person to person.
How Workrave’s three timers work
Microbreaks
A microbreak is a short pause during computer work. Workrave gives roughly 30 seconds after about three minutes as a typical example. During the pause, its guidance suggests releasing the keyboard and mouse, looking away from the screen, and relaxing. You can change both the interval and the duration. Workrave’s break overview
Rest breaks
A rest break is longer; Workrave’s example is roughly ten minutes every 45 minutes. The project suggests using this time to walk around, stretch, and relax. An optional exercise player can display exercises at the start of a rest break. These durations are configurable, not universal health guidance. Workrave’s break overview
Daily computer-use limit
The daily timer tracks computer-use time against a limit you configure. Depending on your setting, microbreak time may count as time spent at the computer. It is distinct from the shorter timers: it is intended to help you manage computer use over the day, rather than just prompt a pause after a stretch of work. Workrave timer settings
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How activity and idle time affect reminders
Workrave monitors keyboard and mouse activity. It counts active time while you use either input device; when you stop, idle time accumulates. Resuming activity resets the idle time. When configured thresholds are reached, the software prompts you to take a break. Workrave’s break overview
A prompt does not have to interrupt you at exactly that moment: it can move out of the way while you finish an activity. What happens after you ignore or postpone a prompt depends on your settings. Workrave can enforce a break or try again later. Workrave timer settings
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How much control you have over settings
Workrave lets you adjust timer intervals and break lengths, as well as how forcefully it reminds you. Documented controls include whether to prompt before a break, the maximum number of prompts, postpone time, and whether postpone and skip controls are shown. If the maximum prompt count is set to zero, the documentation says the break cannot be ignored. Workrave timer settings
- Rest-break behavior: Set how many exercises are included, and choose an option to start a rest break when the screen locks.
- Activity detection: Use an alternate activity monitor if the usual detection fails, and adjust mouse sensitivity so small pointer movements can be ignored.
- Daily accounting: Choose whether microbreak time counts toward the daily computer-use timer.
These options can make reminders more or less flexible, but the settings are a personal fit rather than a prescribed schedule.
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Choosing timer values
Workrave’s examples—about three minutes between 30-second microbreaks and about 45 minutes between ten-minute rest breaks—are illustrations of configurable timers. Its FAQ explicitly cautions that the suitable values vary: “The main problem here is that the settings that are required are different from person to person.” Workrave FAQ
The FAQ offers contrasting examples, not clinical consensus: for someone recovering from RSI, it describes a 25-second micropause every two and a half minutes and a 10-minute rest break every 20 minutes. For someone without computer-use problems, it gives a 10-second micropause every ten minutes and a five-minute rest break each hour. It advises experimenting with what feels right and says proper guidelines are difficult to give. These examples should not be treated as individualized medical advice. Workrave FAQ
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Statistics and what Workrave does not establish
Workrave says it can show daily break counts, ignored and postponed breaks, and computer-use time across daily, weekly, and monthly periods. These records can help you see how you use the reminders and whether your routine is changing. Workrave features
The project frames Workrave as software that assists in the recovery and prevention of repetitive strain injury (RSI). That is the project’s stated purpose, not evidence that the software prevents or treats RSI. The official materials do not establish clinical efficacy for Workrave’s schedules. The FAQ lists a paper on microbreaks, but does not summarize its findings; no effect size or clinical outcome can be inferred from the listing alone. If you have pain or other symptoms, a timer should not substitute for appropriate medical advice. Workrave FAQ
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- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
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Availability and licensing
The project repository identifies the software as Workrave 1.12 and documents installation routes for Windows, Ubuntu, Arch Linux, Debian/Ubuntu packages, and FreeBSD. It lists GNU GPL v3.0 licensing, with some code under different licenses. These repository details do not guarantee that every listed package is current. Check the project’s download page and repository for current release and installation information. The reviewed project materials do not establish current macOS support. Workrave repository
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