exhale-app

A minimal cross-platform breathing overlay, a friendly indicator and reminder to take full, deep breaths while looking at screens. Research indicates we blink less and breathe more shallowly when staring at displays, and exhale is a small tool to help counter that.

The overlay is a translucent, always-on-top, click-through window that gently expands on inhale and contracts on exhale, so it never interrupts whatever you are doing. Inhale, post-inhale hold, exhale, and post-exhale hold durations are all configurable. A good starting point is 4 seconds in and 4 seconds out; eventually 6 and 8, with the exhale twice as long as the inhale to engage the parasympathetic nervous system. Box breathing is 4 / 4 / 4 / 4.

Features:
- Translucent, click-through overlay that expands on inhale and contracts on exhale
- Fully tunable inhale / hold / exhale / hold cadence
- Customisable colours, shapes (fullscreen, circle, or rectangle), and opacity
- Runs from the system tray: start/stop animation, pause, reset to defaults, open preferences
- Optional reminder notifications

Take breaks if intense feelings arise; it is important not to overdo it.

Disclaimer: The information and guidance provided by this app are for general informational purposes only and are not medical advice. The creator is not a medical professional. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health, and do not disregard or delay professional medical advice because of this app. Use is at your own risk.