Overlap / Multiple sessions running at the same time [Now Works with App Limits and Sessions]

Feature Requested By: Kenneth
Number of Votes: 2
View Original Post: Multiple sessions running at the same time · Opal Feedback

Is there any way to have multiple sessions running at the same time? I want one season blocking certain apps all day on the deep focus mode, but then another session for the rest of my apps on the normal mode.

I can only see one schedule at the moment and others don’t seem to be active even though they’re at the same time.

10 Likes

I agree, this would be super helpful. I see a lot of scenarios where you’d have overlapping “recurring schedules” for different types of focus times, or as mentioned by Kenneth, wanting to deep focus certain apps but normal focus others.

3 Likes

Thank you for the feedback here - we are working on this new feature 🔥 [Planned] ⏱ Time Limit / Budget use of distracting apps which will be able to run at the same time as any session.

For example you’ll be able to say
Limit facebook 15min per day
AND at the same time have a “Work Hours” session run that day.

I like the limiting app time and having a planned focus, but I also think you should be able to have multiple focuses that overlap. For example. I was trying to block myself from using social media at all so I made a focus that blocked Facebook/Insta/Snap basically all day. I could have another focus though run during work hours that blocked other distracting apps that weren’t those three social media apps.

6 Likes

Understood and that makes sense. In the immediate term (should be live next week or so) with App Limits :fire: [Planned] :stopwatch: Time Limit / Budget use of distracting apps what you could do it

  • create an App Limit for a very short amount of time (5m) for Facebook/Insta/Snap, so they will be blocked if you reach that time
  • on top have a focus session during work hours with any additional app.

This is going to be super helpful for me having multiple sessions running at the same time.

I plan to have 1 session blocking the use of my “work apps” after the work day and also another active session running at the same for my “social media” apps.

Can’t wait for this to be available!

1 Like

We started to release :fire: [Planned] :stopwatch: Time Limit / Budget use of distracting apps as an AB test so a small portion of you are able to test it, but we plan to release it to everyone within the month of January.

1 Like

Is multiple sessions going to be an active option available in the future? I’d for sure subscribe to a long time pro membership if this became available.

For context: I’d like to have 1 session that blocks my work apps in the evening hours but would also like to setup a social media decompress session that overlaps at the same time.

2 Likes

Feature Requested By: Scott.t.campbell1
Number of Votes: 3
View Original Post: Allow overlapping schedules. · Opal Feedback

I’d like to restrict some via deep focus during the workday (instagram, snapchat) while ALSO restricting other “less distracting / potential news breaking” apps (twitter, reddit) via regular focus. It is my understanding that opal can only run 1 at a time and default to the deep focus only.

Is there an update on this? As it’s the end of January.

1 Like

Yes, this is rolled out! With the new App Limits feature, you can now have simultaneously App Limits and a Session running. Does it work for you?


kenneth
Founder of Opal

Dec '22

We started to release :fire: [Planned] :stopwatch: Time Limit / Budget use of distracting apps as an AB test so a small portion of you are able to test it, but we plan to release it to everyone within the month of January.

From customer support

Hi, how can I run two sessions simultaneously? I want two separate sessions to run at the same time each with their own rules/apps. Thanks

From customer support

Hello, can two sessions run simultaneously as I tried to run two sessions where they overlap each other but one session finishes at a different time compared to the other but it did not work for me and only one session was running and the other started running once the first session finished

From customer support

Hi, so I’m currently blocking YouTube in focus mode so I can’t take breaks.

Can I simultaneously block something else where I can take breaks?

I thought I was going to be able to do it with what I have in the photo here but my text messages are untouched.

From customer support

I was playing with sessions while I was trying to discover the app and I wanted to have 2 sessions that run at the same time.

I created an allow list that runs from 5am to 6pm to do actual work and a block list that runs all the time for something else. And unfortunately I set that one as a deep focus session so I can’t edit it or delete it. So the first one is basically not active because of the second one. I really need your help with this.

Thank you,

From customer support

Have two deep blocking sessions running simultaneously (programmed different apps on different schedules and sometimes the schedules overlap) and one of the two sessions isn’t being applied (social media apps are blocked, chrome isn’t). I can’t edit the session because it is the « deep/locked » option. Thank you!

From customer support

Hi there Opal team,

I would really like the option of running multiple sessions at a time.

For example, I would love to completely block social media, dating apps, and porn all day, with the ability to give myself breaks for the dating apps ONLY. Then after working hours, I’d love the ability to give a window to check social media with breaks, but without also allowing access to porn.

Overall, there are so many use cases for this and I think the app would be sooooo much more powerful if you could have different sessions running at the same time that overlap.

Let me know if this is something you plan on adding in the future, or if it’s something currently available that I just don’t know how to setup yet!

Thanks for listening and building such an awesome app. I’ve been looking for something like this for years.

From customer support

It seems like Opal can only do one thing at a time. Only one session at a time. Only one blocked listed per session. Apps are either restricted in a session or by time limit.
Is there a way where Opal can do all things simultaneously?
I’d like to run to restriction levels during the work day. One list set to normal, and one list set fully blocked. It seems like I can only do one though. Is there a way I can do both?

From customer support

Have two deep blocking sessions running simultaneously (programmed different apps on different schedules and sometimes the schedules overlap) and one of the two sessions isn’t being applied (social media apps are blocked, chrome isn’t). I can’t edit the session because it is the « deep/locked » option. Thank you!

From customer support

I have two events that have overlapping times. One has already started and the other isn’t getting picked up. I got a notification that it was about to start, but it didn’t blog the apps.

Please have a look at it and let me know if there’s some configuration I am missing out.

Thanks