FOCUS

Takes about two minutes. You add three actions and name the Shortcut. Do this once.

1. Open the Shortcuts app. Tap + in the top right to start a new Shortcut.
2. Tap the name at the top, choose Rename, and type Focus Timer. The name must match exactly.
3. Tap Add Action, search Adjust Date, and add it. It reads: Add 1 seconds to Current Date.
4. In that action, tap the number 1. Above the keyboard, tap Shortcut Input. Then tap seconds and change it to minutes. It now reads: Add Shortcut Input minutes to Current Date.
5. Tap Add Action again, search Set Focus, and add it. It reads: Turn Do Not Disturb On until Turned Off.
6. Tap until Turned Off and choose Time. Tap the time that appears, then tap Select Variable and choose Adjusted Date. It now reads: Turn Do Not Disturb On until Adjusted Date.
7. Tap Done. The Shortcut is ready.

Now the second one, for the End Early button. One action, same steps:

1. New Shortcut, rename it Focus Off.
2. Add Set Focus. Tap On and change it to Off. It reads: Turn Do Not Disturb Off.
3. Tap Done.

Do Not Disturb blocks everything by default. Tell it which calls may ring.

1. Open Settings, tap Focus, then Do Not Disturb.
2. Tap People. Under Allow Calls From, pick Everyone to let any call ring, or Favorites to allow only your Favorites contacts.
3. Turn on Allow Repeated Calls. A second call from the same person within three minutes will ring even if they are not allowed.
4. Go back and tap Apps. Leave the allowed list empty so no app notifications get through.

1. On this page, tap 15 and then Start Focus. Safari asks to open Shortcuts. Tap Open.
2. The first time, Shortcuts asks whether Focus Timer may receive text from this website. Tap Always Allow.
3. Check the top right of your screen. The moon icon means Do Not Disturb is on. It turns itself off when the timer ends.
4. To make this page an app: in Safari tap the Share button, then Add to Home Screen.

Do Not Disturb only silences apps. To make them unopenable, add Foqos, a free app blocker that Shortcuts can start and stop. The block ends when the timer ends.

1. Install Foqos from the App Store. Open it and tap Allow when it asks for Screen Time access.
2. Create a profile named Focus. Pick the apps to block. Set the strategy to Manual and leave unlock rules off, or the Shortcut cannot stop it.
3. Open the Focus Timer Shortcut. Tap Add Action, search Start Foqos Profile, add it below Set Focus, and pick Focus. It reads: Start Foqos Profile Focus.
4. Open the Focus Off Shortcut. Add Stop Foqos Profile and pick Focus.
5. Make the block end with the timer. In Shortcuts, tap Automation, then +. Choose Focus, pick Do Not Disturb, select When Turning Off and Run Immediately, tap Next.
6. Tap New Blank Automation, add Stop Foqos Profile, pick Focus, tap Done. Now: timer ends, Do Not Disturb turns off, apps unlock.