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You will only get prompted to take breaks once a pre-set period of time has elapsed. If you never get prompted to take breaks, this may mean:
- that you have set the breaks to be too far apart, so you never work for a "long enough" period of time to trigger the stretch
Example: Say you have set your break interval to be 2 hours, but you never stay at the computer for 2 whole hours.
Solution: In the "Preferences..." reduce your interval between breaks (the recommended level is 20-30 minutes).
- that you have set your break duration to be too short and the program detects that you have taken an "informal" break and resets the elapsed time to zero
Example: Say you have set your break duration to be 2 minutes. Now when you spend 2 minutes without touching a key or moving the mouse, the program will detect this as having taken a break and it will reset the elapsed time to zero.
Solution 1: Set you break duration to something longer in the "Preferences..." (5 to 10 minutes rest break are recommended)
Solution 2: In the "Preferences..." untick the "Detect informal breaks" check box
- your task involves more reading and thinking time than typing and mousing activity. The low activity level makes the clock stop running and run backwards a lot and you never get over the break threshold
Solution 1: Re-run the setup assistant and specify "Optimize for posture problems"; this will change settings so that you will have more regular breaks.
Solution 2: in the "Activity Monitor" section of the "Preferences.." dialog increase the delay before the clock runs backwards and increase the "Keeps running" delay.
Solution 3: in the "Activity Monitor" section of the "Preferences.." dialog untick the "Runs backwards" checkbox.
Note that not being prompted with many breaks may not be a bad thing. It may simply mean that you are using your computer in a safe manner already and thus do not require frequent rest breaks. If you naturally get up from your desk regularly, take short breaks and use the mouse and keyboard sparingly, your already doing many things right.
You may still benefit from regular stretching breaks and choosing the "Optimize for posture problems" approach discussed above may still make sense for you.
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