Focus Monitor
Overview
LifeAt Focus Monitor is a feature that is built into our existing app to help users focus and enhance productivity. It guides users through their tasks and blocks distractions. It also provides detailed analytics to help users understand their focus patterns and improve their workflow over time.
Role
Product Manager and Designer
Timeline
June 2024
Tools
Figma
Context
LifeAt has been growing for a couple years now, but we noticed retention stayed low. People seemed to love the virtual spaces for a few days, and then gradually drop off. Why is that?
To address this, we needed to increase the long-term value LifeAt provides. The Focus Monitor was designed to solve a root problem - helping users stay focused on their tasks - with the goal of improving both engagement and retention.
As the sole designer on this feature, I collaborated closely with the program manager and the broader team. I worked with the program manager on product strategy, research, and user interviews. Then drove design efforts, iterating based on feedback from team and users.
Problem
From talking to users over time, we discovered that many of our users struggled with staying focused throughout the workday or while studying. These struggles were the very reasons users came to LifeAt in the first place. While the app initially helped, its value seemed to fade over time as users returned to old habits.
Research
Who is this for?
We wanted to dig into this problem more by talking to more of our users.
LifeAt attracts a diverse user base, but for this feature, we focused on working professionals. Mainly because they are our primary paying users, and they have expressed more pain from the problem.
I conducted interviews with 6 new users that fit our demographic.
The recurring problems we heard:
Feeling overwhelmed by too many tasks – Difficulty prioritizing and getting started.
Lack of structured focus time – Their schedules were often chaotic and unpredictable.
Low productivity satisfaction – A sense that they weren’t getting as much done as they wanted.
Easily bored & distracted – Seeking quick dopamine hits that led to procrastination.
User Flow
With these insights, we brainstormed potential solutions and designed an ideal user flow.
How the flow works:
Smart Task Prioritization
Automatically organizes the user’s task list based on urgency and duration.
Reduces decision fatigue, making it easier to get started.
Distraction Detection & Nudges
Uses AI to detect distracting apps/websites and sends gentle reminders to refocus.
Users can customize a list of allowed/disallowed apps.
Break Reminders
Encourages healthy work habits by prompting users to take breaks after focus sessions.
Detailed Focus Reports & Insights
Provides session summaries to help users track their productivity.
Over time, the system learns when users are most productive and suggests optimal focus sessions based on past performance.
Design
With the core experience defined, I led the design phase — creating wireframes and prototypes in Figma with iterative feedback from the team. (View the figma file here or figma prototype here)
By helping users understand their focus patterns and habits, we aim to make long-term productivity improvements feel effortless.
Outcome
After designing the feature, the team spent a couple of sprints implementing an MVP and testing it with users. I loved working on this project because it allowed me to deeply explore user challenges and tackle a meaningful problem. Here are some of my biggest takeaways:
Stated needs vs. actual needs
What users think is their problem isn’t always what’s actually holding them back—especially with focus. Instead of focusing on what they said they needed, we found more value analyzing their past behaviors.
Reducing decision fatigue
Leaving too much room for users to decide their next step led to drop-off, especially for those already struggling with focus. A guided, structured approach was much more effective.
Prioritizing core value over extra features
While users had a long list of nice-to-have features, a few key functionalities made the real difference in retention. Scoping down allowed us to deliver a higher-quality product faster and get meaningful feedback sooner.