TakeFive
Building a microbreak tracking & reminder app
Responsibilities
Product Design, Prompt-Driven Development
Timeline
2 Months
Platform
iOS
Why TakeFive?
There’s no shortage of productivity apps. Tools like Forest, Session, and Focus Keeper are built to help people work longer and avoid distractions.
But many people struggle with the opposite problem — they don’t take breaks.
Even when users know breaks improve focus and reduce strain, they often ignore reminders and push through fatigue. Most productivity apps aren’t designed for this behaviour.
Purpose & problem space
I wanted to challenge myself to improve my product design skills, so I decided to build a mobile app prototype using Figma Make.
I brainstormed ideas for apps and searched for existing user problems. I settled on designing a microbreak tracking and reminder app. Microbreaks are 1-5 minute pauses that are scientifically proven to reduce tiredness, protect against repetitive strain injuries, and increase energy.
Make taking and logging microbreaks feel effortless and natural for users?
Gently remind people to take microbreaks, without interrupting deep work?
Help people create a habit of taking regular microbreaks?
My roles
I led the project on my own, managing product design, research, prototyping, branding, illustration, and MVP development using Figma’s vibe coding tool, Make.
Challenge #1
Communicating the idea
TakeFive’s onboarding helps users get started by gathering essential setup details and explaining the app’s benefits. I focused on making TakeFive’s purpose immediately clear to users and ensuring that entering key information felt easy and intuitive.
Challenge #2
Alerting, not diverting
Author of Deep Work, Calvin Newport suggests that distraction or diversion from tasks can decrease productivity by 50%. In order to avoid drops in productivity, TakeFive allows users to block hours with no interruptions.
Do Not Disturb
Block out deep work and meetings.
Users will receive in-app microbreak reminders inside a bottom sheet modal.
TakeFive notifications are always gentle, and phrased as suggestions rather than instructions.
Challenge #3
Making it stick
To help form the habit of microbreaking, TakeFive allows users to track their microbreak activities and frequency. I introduced variable rewards that tie the intended behaviour to tangible in-app achievements, reinforcing the habit and increasing its stickiness.
Microbreak analytics for users to dig into.
Pause design system
I created a design system to reduce decision fatigue and ensure visual consistency as I added new features and screens.
Try it for yourself!
Below is iteration 3 of the TakeFive prototype. You can receive reminders, log microbreaks, collect achievements, and start streaks! The only thing you can't do yet is receive push notifications.
Learnings
Several key learnings became clear after reflecting on the project.
Round pegs for round holes
I realised that features that work for other apps often needed adapting for the TakeFive use case. For example, traditional streaks would penalise users for taking time off — ironic for an app encouraging better break habits. I reworked them into workday streaks, counting only on days of work/study, encouraging the intended behaviour, not punishing it.
Smarter prompting
Whilst at times Figma Make felt like magic, other times it was frustrating and time consuming. Code generation is fast but the output is only as good as the prompt. I learned through practise that clear and precise prompting was the key to good output from the AI, and the best way to avoid unnecessary (and very soon costly) back and fourth.
Future roadmap
If I had more resource I would look at four projects to improve TakeFive.
Add your calendar
Adding a calendar would remove the need for users to set Do Not Disturb hours, eliminating a repetitive task.
Intentional animation
For example, Joulez could dynamically get more drained the longer time goes on without a microbreak — encouraging users to break more.
Enhanced achievements
Great illustrations from artists in the wellness space would make collecting achievement badges more fun and engaging.
Database integration
