Have a Rest

Have a Rest is a simple-to-use program that can be scheduled to remind you to regularly take breaks from working or studying, as the name implies. However, it can also be used as a reminder for various tasks, such as taking medicine.

Installing this app doesn't take long and requires minimal user attention, thanks to the fact that there are no prerequisites involved.

Afterward, it creates an icon in the taskbar notifications area to facilitate immediate access to its settings, while remaining hidden and non-intrusive to give you enough space to conduct normal computer activities.

Left-clicking this icon brings a small configuration panel the screen, which enables you to specify the reminder frequency and rest time in minutes. When time is up, the utility can show a black screen with a countdown timer and optionally lock it, in order to "force" you into taking a break.

Otherwise, Have a Rest can be instructed to show a predefined message asking you to take a break, which needs confirmation to hide it. Optionally, you can set the window to shake while it's on screen.

You can reset the timer from the icon's right-click menu. Apart from the fact that you can check for software updates and consult an online help manual, there are no other notable settings available.

Unsurprisingly, it left a small footprint on system resources in our tests, thanks to the fact that it needed a low amount of CPU and RAM to work properly. It ran smoothly, without causing the OS to hang, crash or prompt error messages.

To conclude, Have a Rest gives you an approachable solution for scheduling regular break times away from the computer.