
By now we all know it’s important to move around during the workday, not just sit in the same spot for hours at a time.
I’ve been using the free Time Out software on my Mac for years. I can set it to ask me to take a break after X minutes, and I can set the break itself to X minutes. It’s been very useful and I recommend it. However I’ve used the software for so long that I’m now habitually clicking the “Skip Break” button regularly.
I read a review of the Stand Up! free app for iPhone in TidBITS, and decided to give it a try. (I also highly advise you read the Stand Up! review, written by Josh Centers.)
Note that there are lots of apps named Stand Up in the iOS App Store; look for the one with the white arrow on the yellow background, made by a company called Raised Square. (Or use my link above.)
Now that I’ve been using it for a few days, here’s why I like it (and a few things I think could be improved).
Pros
- Very easy to use.
- Lets you change the color, if you’re not into super bright yellow.
- You can set the hours and the days you want alerts. So mine is set for Mon-Fri only, from 9 to 6 only.
- You can set it to only alert you when you’re at one location. So it won’t bother you when you’re at a movie, at a restaurant, anywhere other than the location you’ve designated.
- The regular alert sound is fine; if you want other alerts you can pay $1 in-app.
Cons
- It doesn’t force you to take a break, it just reminds you to do so. And if you say you can’t take a break at that minute, it doesn’t re-remind you a few minutes later.
- It does have “don’t bug me for X minutes” buttons, but the only options are 30 minutes, 60 minutes, or 90 minutes. I wish I could set this for some other options.
- I wish I could set 2 locations — my work and my home — since I work in both places. Right now I have to update the app when I move between the two.
I like the simplicity of Stand Up! — it does one thing very well. I can see them adding some more features and functionality while still keeping it easy to use.