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🔔 Notifications & Timers

Mind Your Now's notification system keeps you on track with smart reminders, timers, and alerts. This guide covers everything about notifications, timers, alarms, and how to customize your experience.

Overview​

The notification system is designed to help you:

  • Never miss important tasks with customizable reminders
  • Stay focused with countdown timers
  • Remember appointments with alarms
  • Stay informed without being overwhelmed

Notification Inbox​

Accessing Your Notifications​

Look for the bell icon in the navigation. A badge shows your unread count.

Inbox Features​

  • All notifications in one place - Task reminders, timer completions, habit nudges, and more
  • Filter by type - Focus on what matters right now
  • Read/unread status - Clear visual indicators for new notifications
  • Quick actions - Mark as read, take action, or dismiss directly

Notification Types​

TypeDescriptionIcon
Task ReminderDue date and scheduling alerts📋
Habit ReminderDaily habit notifications and streak protection🔄
Chore ReminderHousehold chore assignments🏠
Timer CompleteWhen your timers finish⏱️
AlarmTime-based reminders⏰
AI NudgeProactive suggestions from Kaia🤖

Timer System​

Timer Types​

Countdown Timers​

Duration-based timers perfect for:

  • Cooking ("30 minute timer for the ham")
  • Focus sessions ("25 minute work block")
  • Time-boxed activities ("15 minutes to clean the kitchen")

How to create:

  1. Open the Timer interface
  2. Enter a name and duration
  3. Click Start

Voice command: "Set a 30 minute timer for the ham"

Alarms​

Time-based reminders for specific moments:

  • Appointments ("3pm dentist reminder")
  • Medication ("Take pills at 9am")
  • Events ("Call mom at 5pm")

How to create:

  1. Open the Timer interface
  2. Switch to Alarm mode
  3. Set the time and name
  4. Click Create Alarm

Voice command: "Remind me at 3pm to call mom"

AI-Created Timers​

Kaia can proactively create timers when she sees you need them:

  • "I noticed your meeting is in 30 minutes - want me to set a prep timer?"
  • "Your habit is usually done by now - setting a reminder?"

Timer Controls​

ActionDescription
StartBegin the countdown
PauseTemporarily stop (saves remaining time)
ResumeContinue from where you paused
StopEnd the timer completely
SnoozeAdd extra time when timer completes

Multiple Timers​

You can run 10+ named timers simultaneously:

  • "Ham in oven" - 30 minutes
  • "Check the potatoes" - 45 minutes
  • "Bread rising" - 2 hours

All timers sync across your devices.

Timer Completion​

When a timer completes:

  1. Push notification sent to your devices
  2. Sound alert plays (configurable)
  3. In-app notification appears
  4. Option to snooze for more time

Notification Preferences​

Accessing Settings​

Navigate to Settings → Notifications to customize your experience.

Available Toggles​

Push Notifications​

  • Task Reminders - Due date and scheduling notifications
  • Habit Reminders - Daily habits and streak protection alerts
  • Chore Reminders - Household chore assignment reminders
  • Timer/Alarm Alerts - When your timers complete
  • AI Nudges - Proactive suggestions from Kaia
  • Daily Briefing - Morning summary notification

Email Preferences​

  • Weekly Summary - Weekly progress email

Restore Defaults​

Click Restore Defaults to reset all notification preferences to sensible settings.

Push Notifications​

Supported Platforms​

PlatformSupportFeatures
Web✅Browser notifications
iOS✅Lock screen, notification center, badges
Android✅Lock screen, notification center, badges
Apple Watch✅Quick actions on wrist

Enabling Push Notifications​

Web Browser​

  1. When prompted, click Allow for notifications
  2. Or go to Settings → Notifications and enable

iOS​

  1. Open Mind Your Now app
  2. Allow notifications when prompted
  3. Manage in iOS Settings → Mind Your Now → Notifications

Android​

  1. Open Mind Your Now app
  2. Allow notifications when prompted
  3. Manage in Android Settings → Apps → Mind Your Now → Notifications

Notification Actions​

Many notifications include quick actions:

Task Reminders:

  • ✓ Complete - Mark task as done
  • ⏰ Snooze - Remind later

Habit Reminders:

  • ✓ Done - Log completion
  • ⏭️ Skip - Skip today

Timer Completion:

  • 👋 Dismiss - Clear the notification
  • ⏰ Snooze - Add more time

Smart Reminders​

Task Reminders​

Set reminders for any task:

  1. Open a task
  2. Enable Reminder
  3. Choose timing:
    • Fixed time - "Remind me at 9am"
    • Before due date - "Remind me 2 hours before"

Habit Reminders​

Habits can have daily reminders:

  1. Open a habit
  2. Set Reminder Time
  3. Get daily notifications at that time

Streak Protection​

For habits with streaks, you'll get:

  • Gentle nudge if you haven't completed your habit by your usual time
  • Streak at risk alert if it's getting late

Calendar Integration​

Shared Task Calendars​

When tasks are shared with household members, calendar events use a three-level hierarchy:

  1. Task-specific calendar (highest priority)
  2. Household default calendar
  3. Member's primary calendar (fallback)

Setting Household Default Calendar​

  1. Go to Settings → Household
  2. Find Default Shared Task Calendar
  3. Select from your connected calendars
  4. All shared tasks without a specific calendar will use this

Troubleshooting​

Not Receiving Notifications​

Web:

  1. Check browser notification permissions
  2. Ensure you're not in Do Not Disturb mode
  3. Try refreshing the page

Mobile:

  1. Check app notification permissions in system settings
  2. Ensure notifications aren't disabled for Mind Your Now
  3. Check if Low Power Mode is affecting notifications

Timer Not Alerting​

  1. Check that Timer/Alarm Alerts is enabled in preferences
  2. Ensure your device volume is up
  3. Check Do Not Disturb settings

Notifications Delayed​

  • Push notifications may be delayed on battery-optimized devices
  • Ensure Mind Your Now is excluded from battery optimization

Best Practices​

For Task Management​

  • Set reminders for tasks due the next day, not same-day
  • Use "before due date" timing for important deadlines
  • Enable streak protection for habits you're building

For Timers​

  • Name your timers descriptively
  • Use Kaia voice commands for quick timer creation
  • Set multiple timers for complex cooking or projects

For Preferences​

  • Start with defaults and adjust as needed
  • Disable categories you don't use (e.g., Chore Reminders if you don't use household features)
  • Review weekly summary emails to stay on track

Coming Soon​

Future notification enhancements:

  • Quiet Hours - Automatic silence during sleep/focus time
  • Escalating Reminders - Increasing urgency for critical items
  • Email Fallback - Missed notifications sent via email
  • AI Daily Briefings - Personalized morning summaries