An intelligent extension that helps you maintain healthy work habits. Breaky reminds you to take regular breaks with three enforcement levels to match your needs.
Installation
Launch VS Code Quick Open (Ctrl+P), paste the following command, and press enter.
An intelligent extension that helps you maintain healthy work habits. Breaky reminds you to take regular breaks with three enforcement levels to match your needs.
Features
Configurable Work/Break Cycles: Set your preferred work duration (default: 50 min) and break duration (default: 10 min)
Pre-Break Warning: Get a heads-up (default: 2 min) before a break starts, so it never catches you mid-thought
Three Enforcement Levels: Choose how strictly breaks are enforced
Status Bar Timer: Always see how much time remains until your next break
Activity Suggestions: Eye exercises, stretching, breathing, and movement with YouTube video tutorials
Statistics: Track breaks taken today, this week, and your consecutive-day streak
Auto-Start: Automatically starts the timer when VS Code opens
Survives Reloads: The timer (and an active break) picks up where it left off after a window reload
Enforcement Levels
Beginner Mode (Default)
Gentle notifications
Completely ignorable — you can continue working anytime
Periodic reminders if you skip a break
Intermediate Mode
Full-screen overlay with countdown timer
Overlay keeps appearing but can be closed
"Continue Working" button available
"Snooze (5 min)" button available
Hardcore Mode
Full-screen lock that cannot be closed
You cannot skip or close it until the break timer ends
The panel recreates itself if closed
For those who need maximum accountability!
Commands
Access commands via the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P):
Command
Description
Breaky: Start Timer
Start the work timer
Breaky: Pause Timer
Pause the timer
Breaky: Reset Timer
Reset the timer
Breaky: Take Break Now
Start a break immediately
Breaky: Skip Current Break
Skip the break (not available in hardcore mode)
Breaky: Show Timer Status
Show timer status
Breaky: Show Statistics
Show statistics
Breaky: Open Settings
Open settings
Keyboard Shortcuts
Shortcut
Command
Ctrl+K B
Take a break now
Ctrl+K S
Skip break
Ctrl+K T
Show timer status
(Use Cmd instead of Ctrl on macOS)
Quick Testing
To test the extension without waiting 50 minutes:
Open VS Code Settings (Ctrl+,)
Search for "breakReminder.workDuration"
Set it to 3 (3 minutes) — a work duration at or below the pre-break warning
time disables the warning, so keep it a minute or two longer than
preBreakWarningMinutes
Optionally set "breakReminder.preBreakWarningMinutes" to 1 to see the
heads-up after 2 minutes, before the break itself starts at 3
Or use Ctrl+K B to trigger a break immediately!
Status Bar Icons
$(clock) – Working (timer running)
$(coffee) – On break
$(debug-pause) – Timer paused
$(watch) – Timer inactive
Development
npm install
npm run watch # recompile on change
Press F5 in VS Code to launch an Extension Development Host with Breaky loaded.
npm run lint # ESLint
npm test # runs the test suite in a real VS Code instance
npm run package # builds a .vsix with vsce
Why Take Breaks?
Eye Health: The 20-20-20 rule helps reduce eye strain
Physical Health: Regular movement prevents repetitive strain injuries
Mental Clarity: Short breaks improve focus and productivity
Creativity: Stepping away from the screen often leads to better solutions
