Unlock Your Full Productivity Potential: Learn How To Create Your Own Custom Focus Mode in macOS Monterey Now!

Are you struggling with staying focused on your task at hand? Do notifications and distractions on your computer hinder your productivity? Worry no more, as macOS Monterey has introduced a game-changing feature that can help you stay focused and productive - Custom Focus Mode.

With Custom Focus Mode, you can customize your notifications, apps, and other settings according to your preference for a specific task. Whether you’re working on an important project, engaging in creative work, or simply need some uninterrupted me-time, Custom Focus Mode can help you achieve your task without the distractions that hinder your focus.

Here’s how you can create your Custom Focus Mode in macOS Monterey:

Step 1: Open ‘System Preferences’

The first step is to open System Preferences by either clicking on the ‘Apple’ icon on the top left corner of your screen or searching ‘System Preferences’ in Spotlight Search.

Step 2: Navigate to ‘Focus’

Once you’re in System Preferences, click on the ‘Focus’ icon. It’s under the section ‘Personal.’

Step 3: Create a New Focus

Now, click on the ‘+’ icon to add a new focus. You can choose to create a custom focus from scratch or choose a pre-defined focus with customization options.

Step 4: Choose your focus settings

Once you’ve created your new focus, it’s time to customize it according to your preference. There are four different focus modes - Personal, Work, Sleep, and Do Not Disturb.

You can choose the focus mode that suits your needs best and customize the settings according to your preference. For instance, if you choose ‘Work’ as your focus mode, you can select the apps that you want to see notifications from while working and prevent others from distracting you.

Step 5: Activate your Custom Focus Mode

Once you’ve customized your focus mode, it’s time to activate it! Click on the toggle switch next to your Custom Focus Mode to turn it on.

Step 6: Enjoy your uninterrupted focus time

Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy your uninterrupted focus time with the Custom Focus Mode.

In conclusion, Custom Focus Mode is a useful feature for those who want to maximize their productivity and minimize their distractions. By customizing your notifications and app settings, you can focus on what matters the most and achieve more in less time. So, unlock your productivity potential today and create your own Custom Focus Mode in macOS Monterey.

And we all know how important flow is. A few seconds of setback can take you minutes to recover from (especially when you’re in the zone).  So, how do you create this custom Flow? Let me show you. All you’ll need to make this work is either a MacBook Pro/Air or an iMac running macOS Monterey or newer. With such a device at the ready, let’s get our Focus on.

Create a custom Focus

1. Open System Preferences

Click on the Apple menu in the top left corner of your desktop. From the resulting pop-up menu, click System Preferences.

2. Access Notifications & Focus

In the System Preferences window (Figure 1), click Notifications & Focus.

3. Open the Focus tab

Once Notifications & Focus is opened, click the Focus tab (Figure 2).

4. Create the new Focus

Click + at the bottom left corner of the window and select Custom (Figure 3). In the resulting window (Figure 4), give the new Focus a name and select a color and an icon. After naming and selecting a color/icon, click Add to save the new Focus.

5. Allowing specific notifications

The next thing to do is to specific contacts or apps that will be allowed when this Focus is enabled. To do that, click + under Allowed Notifications From (Figure 5). From the pop-up list, select the contact(s) you want to be allowed to interrupt you when this focus is enabled and click Add (Figure 6).

6. Set the Focus to be enabled

You can either enable the new Focus manually (by moving the ON/OFF slider to ON, or you can set a schedule. To set a schedule, click + at the bottom of the Turn On Automatically section and then select Add Time Based Automation. In the resulting pop-up (Figure 7), select a time frame and days of the week for when you’d like the new Focus to be enabled. Click Add, and you’re done. The new Focus will be enabled, and you can be sure that only the contacts you’ve allowed will be able to interrupt your work (at least via macOS).  Use this new Focus feature wisely, and it will help you be more productive while not preventing you from missing out on important notifications from your VIP contacts.