Recess is a break reminder app for macOS that runs independent eye-rest and body-stretch timers on separate cadences, covering all displays with a calm guided overlay when a break is due. (Free, pay-what-you-want)
The app offers five preset intensity levels ranging from Light to Strict, each with configurable skip penalties that increase the cost of dismissing reminders. When the user steps away from the keyboard, Recess detects the absence and automatically credits the break, resuming the countdown without manual input. Automatic pausing activates during macOS Focus modes, active calls, screen recording, and user-specified applications, preventing interruptions during presentations or focused work periods.
Work-hours settings restrict break reminders to defined time windows such as standard business hours. All activity data is retained locally in a 60-day log with weekly summary reports showing break frequency and compliance trends. The app supports four languages — English, Turkish, German, and Spanish — and requires no account.
System requirements: macOS 14 or later; approximately 30 MB. Supports Apple Silicon and Intel.
Pricing: (Free, pay-what-you-want; suggested $3.99, one-time.) Available on the App Store, Lemon Squeezy, and Gumroad. 30-day free trial included with no account required.
Limitations: No integration with Apple Health or third-party fitness tracking platforms. Requires macOS 14, excluding older systems. Break overlay content is a fixed guided animation; custom media or exercise libraries are not supported.
Alternatives: Time Out (macOS break timer with customizable overlays, longer history); Breaks for Eyes (simpler eye-break reminders with no body-break component); Pawodoro (Pomodoro-style timer with cat video breaks rather than guided stretches).
Suitable for users who spend extended periods at a desk and need structured, automatic reminders to rest their eyes and stretch on independent schedules.
