Quotes

Trying to focus on the task at hand while dealing with distracting websites and time-wasting apps can be difficult. Especially when you don’t feel like don’t it!

So what do you do when your willpower is depleted and you need a quick boost of motivation?

Focus has a feature called “Quotes” that displays an inspiring quote every time you try to access a blocked website.

It’s the little extra push you need to get back on track, complete your working session and maximize your productivity.

How The “Quotes” Feature Works In Focus

When you launch Focus and attempt to access a blocked website in your web browser, you will see the following screen appear:

In other words: While Focus is active, all attempts to access blocked websites are instead met with a pre-loaded inspirational quote that is chosen by random.

Focus comes with a default collection of quotations from notable names seen across a variety of fields.

NOTE: It is recommended to have your quotes loaded into Focus BEFORE it is launched. You can only add, edit or remove quotes if Focus is not operating in Hardcore Mode.

How To Use The “Quotes” Feature In Focus

To access this feature, click the Focus menubar icon, click Preferences and then click on the Quotes tab.

The default collection of quotes provided by Focus have been curated to get you re-engaged and re-focused on the task at hand.

However, maybe you have your own collection of personal heroes you are inspired by.

Maybe “Weird Al” Yankovic motivates you more than Albert Einstein. You might even be your own hero and need to hear some tough love in your own voice.

No problem! Focus comes equipped with a variety of options that allow you to customize the quotes you see in place of a blocked website.

Here are the many ways in which you can create your own personalized collection of motivational messages...

ADDING QUOTES IN FOCUS

To add a quote into Focus, simply access the Quotes tab with the Preferences window open and press the “+” icon on the bottom-left hand corner:

You will then see a new row open up to add a quote and the author it belongs to:

Once you have finished entering the quote, press the Tab key on your computer to enter the name of the corresponding author.

Press the Enter key, and viola!

You now have a brand new quote that will pop up amongst the existing collection of quotes when you try to access a blocked website while Focus is activated.

EDITING QUOTES WITHIN FOCUS

See a spelling error in one of your quotes? Want to add or remove something?

Editing quotes in Focus is extremely easy.

Go to the Quotes tab with the Preferences window open and double-click on your quote in either the “Quote” column or the “Author” column (depending on what you want to edit)

Type in the necessary changes, and press the Enter key when finished.

REMOVING QUOTES WITHIN FOCUS

Removing quotes is just as easy as adding or editing them.

To remove a quote from Focus, simply access the Quotes tab with the Preferences window, highlight the quote you want to remove, and press the “-” icon on the bottom-left hand corner:

EXPORTING QUOTES OUT OF FOCUS

Want to keep your list of quotes saved for use at a later time?

It’s as easy as 1-2-3. Here’s how Focus helps you do that…

To export the list of existing quotes you already have in Focus, simply access the Quotes tab with the Preferences window and click on the “gear” icon:

Select the “Export quotes” option. You will then be able to choose the folder on your computer where you want your collection of quotes to be exported:

Once you have selected your folder, click the “Open” button and you will see the following screen:

Your collection of quotes will be available in the form of a .txt file, and it will appear like this when you open it:

IMPORTING QUOTES INTO FOCUS

Have a list of quotes you would like to import into Focus? Here’s how to make that happen…

To import the list of existing quotes you already have in Focus, simply access the Quotes tab with the Preferences window and click on the “gear” icon.

Click on the “Import quotes” option:

NOTE: To ensure that your quotes are successfully imported, they must be in the form of a .txt file where each quote follows this specific format:

[Quote]. -Author Name.

So your .txt file would look something like this…

“Action is the foundational key to all success. -Pablo Picasso

There is no substitute for hard work. -Thomas Edison

Etc.”

Please see the final image in the “EXPORTING QUOTES OUT OF FOCUS” section on this page to see how your .txt file should look like.

You will then have the option to select the .txt file containing your quotes:

Open the file, and you will see the following message pop up in Focus:

Don’t worry about accidentally uploading the same quote twice - Focus will be able to detect if any duplicate quotes are being uploaded by mistake and notify you as such.

RESTORING THE DEFAULT COLLECTION OF QUOTES PROVIDED BY FOCUS

Let’s say you get sick and tired of constantly adding, removing and editing your customized collection of quotes on Focus and you just want the default collection restored.

We got you covered! It only takes a few clicks to return things back to the way they were.

To restore the default collection of quotes that come with Focus, simply access the Quotes tab with the Preferences window and click on the “gear” icon.

Click on the “Reset to defaults” option:

You will see this notification pop up immediately:

Focus will remove any existing quotes you have, replacing them with the default collection.

NOTE: This CANNOT be undone, so make sure you’re good to go before pressing the “OK” button!