Vitamin-R
3.26
What is Vitamin-R for Mac
Vitamin-R creates the optimal conditions for your brain to work at its best by structuring your work into short bursts of distraction-free, highly focused activity alternating with opportunities for renewal, reflection and intuition.
The built-in task logging and statistics features create a positive momentum towards productivity by providing visible feedback on your progress and achievements.
Features
- Time Slice Your Work. Vitamin-R breaks down large, vaguely defined tasks into a series of short "time slices" of between 10 and 30 minutes, each with specific, easily reachable and actionable objectives. During these time slices it keeps you focused on accomplishing only this one objective and provides you with mechanisms for dealing with interruptions, poor concentration, etc.
- Get Started. Vitamin-R concentrates on getting you started allowing you to break through the resistance of procrastination and create a positive feedback loop of small achievements that get you closer to your ultimate aims. You will experience less stress caused by looming deadlines and a lack of clear direction, thus enabling you to enjoy guilt-free breaks that allow your intuition and creativity to emerge.
- Find Your Rhythm. Each one of us is different. Finding out what works best for you is the key to true productivity. Vitamin-R helps you by giving you the tools to gain more awareness of how you spend your time, what works for you and what does not. Armed with this new knowledge, you can eliminate unproductive work patterns and discover the work rhythm that suits you best.
- Get It Out of Your Head Quickly. Did you know that your short term memory can only hold 4-6 "chunks" of information? The slightest interruption and it's all gone and you have to start from scratch. That's why Vitamin-R provides you with the "Now and Later Board", complete with FastType magic, to give you a place to quickly dump all those things that go through your head and allow you to quickly return to your task.
- Make It Your Own. Vitamin-R plugs into your life rather than trying to take it over. You can use it occasionally to overcome procrastination or mental blocks or re-organize your entire working life around the concepts that it embodies. It complements rather than replaces traditional to-do list managers, such as Things or OmniFocus for which direct integrations exist.
- Now With Cloud Synching! If you routinely work on multiple Macs, you will love Vitamin-R's new ability to effortlessly synch your time slice log across the cloud using the free Dropbox service. Setup is as easy as ticking a checkbox.
- Recapture the lost of art of joyful concentration. Overcome procrastination. Rediscover the motivation within yourself.
What's new in Vitamin-R
Version 3.26:
- This fixes a cosmetic bug with the log book pad.
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Feb 9 2017
Version: 2.44
This is the best assistant I've ever had. The app is highly customizable, well managed and very sufficient. Every time I apply it to my project, Vitamin-R makes it accomplishable in the defined time period.
Mar 9 2016
Version: 2.39
I like the way this app helps me manage my working time. I have to do a lot of writing, so concentrating on a certain topic can sometimes be a problem. Plus, for me personally, it's rather difficult to manage my time and set particular goals to achieve. Vitamin-R helps with that.
The thing I like most about the application is the notifications that appear on the screen telling me about the end of time slices. Awesome!
Pros: Lots of features and refinements for making my work as productive and easy as it can possibly be.
Cons: For many users it's the price I guess.
Bottom line:
Give it a try!
Feb 7 2016
Version: 2.37
Please convince my chief to buy this so I can take more breaks at work. :)
Great app.
Jan 13 2016
Version: 2.36
Vitamin-R is an all-in-one task management powerhouse. At first glance, it’s a simple time keeper, affording the user the ability to quickly and easily time their work session. You can extend your time block if the task isn’t over or enter a break period – easy and straightforward. The fuss-free time keeping interface is reason enough to give Vitamin-R a shot, but it’s what the app offers after the “time slice” is complete that makes it shine. The Now & Later board is the perfect space for capturing transient thoughts, and it’ll propel you through your task rather than bog you down with bells and whistles. Ingenious templates give you a place to comment on your in-progress task, linking one session to the next, encouraging reflection and improvement as you proceed through your time slices.
The ‘Tools’ section of the app is a revelation, as it gives you an enhanced perspective of your ability to focus through a statistics view, as well as a running history of completed tasks in a log; these two sections of the app are tucked away just enough to sit out of sight of users that are trying to get work done with minimal friction, but at hand enough for the true power user to get great insight on their self and their work. And the noise machine is a delightful, unexpected addition, creating a soft bed of noise to drown out distractions and keep you on task. If given the opportunity, Vitamin-R will surprise you over and over again, making you increasingly productive with diminishing amounts of effort.
Aug 7 2015
Version: 2.29
8/7/2015 The current Mac App Store version is 2.25, while the current MacUpdate version is 2.29. If the Mac App Store version is always going to be a few versions behind, why not allow users to use the direct download instead? I have several apps where the developer added the ability to check for a Mac App Store installation and recognize that as a valid license.
Jan 5 2015
Version: 2.21
Very well build app that does what it promise : remembers you to have breaks ones in a while.
A bit expensive though.
Dec 10 2014
Version: 2.20
Version 2.20 (beta) ONLY runs on OS X 10.0 Yosemite. Not backwards compatible.
Aug 21 2014
Version: 2.19
Whats a great idea! I've used stress detection & breaks planner for my PC http://www.yostress.com ... but the don't have Mac version :(
Jul 31 2014
Version: 2.17
Got this with the latest Macheist bundle. Nicely build app that is easy to use.
Jul 19 2014
Version: 2.14
Not that impressed. Suppose to make you focus, but too complicated.
Should have a simple and advanced mode.
Not at all minded on macs that uses another speak synths. My mac speak Danish. I can't change what the app says. Sounds terrible. Unable to focus... - it's a redo or undo
Apr 11 2014
Version: 2.12
Vitamin-R is the germ of a good idea.
No one really multi-tasks, no one does thing rely concurrently. That’s a myth.
People call it “multi-tasking," but no one can capably do many things simultaneously - they are instead good bookmarkers, being able to flip or cycle between different tasks in rapid succession.
There is no real way to apply this tool to that scenario, from my experience.
If you have discrete tasks, or relatively separate tasks & can dedicate bursts of time - that is what Vitamin-R addresses.
To keep you from being over-absorbed in one task line, when others compete for your attention & HAVE to be done.
This is really an alarm clock.
It means recognizing when your time is better spent hitting the alarm & continuing on with the first task, vs assessing whether you are a point of diminishing returns & need to move on to something else that yields more progress.
Jan 31 2014
Version: 2.07
I purchased this last year and feel it is a great concept. But I'm disappointed to see that even with the latest update it still does not support organizing breadcrumbs and primers by objective. I feel this is a major flaw in this software that bars it from being truly useful. Why does the developer not address?
Oct 23 2013
Version: 2.05
More of a note/remark:
- This app doesn't appear to be signed.
Would it be possible to have it signed, otherwise people get a security warning...thanks.
- As others mentioned, the possibility to have more than one taks running in parallel (better UI) would be welcome.
Sep 25 2013
Version: 2.04
Vitamin-R would be a great app if it did more than what free apps already do, and those apps do more. The issue for me is I multitask - I have to divide my time between multiple tasks. Vitamin-R only focuses on 1 task at a time until completion, or you have to delete (read: waste time) and start a new task in the app. It would be nice if I could enter a list of tasks for the day and then select the task to start for that moment. This could be the perfect app to use with a task/project management app.
Jun 19 2013
Version: 2.0
I was a customer of the v1.0 and I recently upgraded my license to 2.0; being understood that Vitamin-R is an excellent product and probably the best time-focusing app available, i must say this:
IMHO the new UI is awful.
I still prefer the old UI with the dark gray balloon that was in use on v1.0. This new gray squared window reminds me the nineties and the old days of Windows 98.
Jun 10 2013
Version: 2.0
Intrigued by the idea, I went and bought this software on a recent promo. So far I'm pretty happy with it and I do actually feel it helps me to focus a little better and be more productive. I love the OmniFocus integration. I also have found the developer to be very responsive with questions.
There is what I perceive to be a flaw with the software however. The idea of leaving "breadcrumbs" and "priming" yourself for when you resume an objective I think is an excellent productivity tool. However, a critical missing piece is the ability to keep your breadcrumbs and primers organized BY OBJECTIVE. Right now there is a Now & Later board but if you're like me and you bounce from objective to objective based on shifting priorities you will find the now and later board gets muddied up with notes from various different tasks.
Now as much as I would love to focus on a task until it is complete, I just don't have that luxury. However, the very act of bouncing between tasks makes the idea of breadcrumbs and primers all the more crucial. ("What the heck was I last doing with this project again?") What I would like to see is that when I resume an objective I am presented with the notes for that objective and that objective only. I'm hoping that this will be addressed in a future version of the software as I feel it would make it considerably more useful.
Jun 5 2013
Version: 2.0
This app is a very interesting idea and worth to try it out, when you feel you have a need... ;-)
@ publicspace
I have version 1 and thanks to today's MU promo just learned, that version 2 is out (which I do _not_ know already).
Actually I had stopped using Vitamin-R (version1), because it missed a feature that is crucial IMHO:
I would want to define many different objectives (= tasks) IN ADVANCE _and_ while creating this simple to-do list I would want to define the needed time (or a time slice of a defined amount of minutes, that I would want to work on that very task).
Yes, I did see the "Now & Later" Board, but that is not exactly what I was looking for.
So, now I wonder whether such a simple to-do list is implemented in version 2 now? If it's not, what do you think about this idea?
Thanks in advance :)
Sep 10 2012
Version: 1.88
Good for starters if they can't organize their big tasks themselves. Interface little outdated. Anyway, worth money if you have little problems with organization process.
Jan 4 2012
Version: 1.76
i hope i'm not making any waves here, but i'm wondering... i have aquired about 10 softwares i don't really use but are still really nice softwares -- it just that i don't need them and won't ever use them. Vitamin-R is one of those softwares. i just hate to see stuff go to waste when it might be a use to someone else. i wonder if it would be ok to give softwares like this one away to one person without wanting any gain for myself other than the good feeling one gets from giving? i'm sure not wanting to cause any problems most of all though.
Jul 30 2011
Version: 1.66
I was using a free Pomodoro app but switched to Vitamin-R. I use this app every day and find it is very helpful in keeping me on track! I use the statistics feature quite often to see how much concentrated work I've done for the day and the week. One issue I've had crop up a couple of times is a glitch where the app does not record time I've extended onto a time slice and I've lost the logging of a couple of hours. In the main window it shows the correct time slice but the log and statistics does not. It's frustrating because I rely on the app to tell me how many hours I've put into a project. Other than that glitch, GREAT app and I recommend it.
Jun 30 2011
Version: 1.65
Great app! I don't use it all the time. When I get busy and seem overwhelmed this app helps keep me focused. Have you ever been so busy that the slightest thing distracts you and you come back to your computer and don't remember what you were working on?
This app is for you!
I use The Hit List and am so glad to see it integrated with it now! Sweet!
I don't know if this is possible . . . do you think you could make it so that the time started and the time ended could be put in The Hit List as well? That would be incredible!!!! I would not have to use the timer in THL then.
Anyway, great work. Thanks!!!
May 26 2011
Version: 1.63
Bought this in a bundle and then forgot about it until a couple of days ago ... great app! Love that it's so flexible without being overly complicated. The tabbed now/later/scratch pad & objective boards are invaluable — especially since they allow formatting so you can tweak notes to your visual preferences — so I don't feel the need to switch between this and a notes app when juggling tasks/projects.
White noise machine is a nice option, although I would love the option of using custom sounds/soundscapes.
A pleasant and effective tool for being more productive!
Apr 13 2011
Version: 1.58
When I use it, I actually get more done. Now, if I would just use it more regularly . . .
Mar 14 2011
Version: 1.56
This app has significantly enhanced my productivity.
When I first discovered the whole GTD method, I picked up Omnifocus and became very organized. Trouble is, I was creating tasks and sub-tasks, but still struggling with procrastination.
Vitamin R has solved that - and for me, been the missing piece in the puzzle.
Not only does it help you start taking action on small achievable steps, it keeps you focused (the little "ticks" are great for this) and gives lots of positive reinforcement through the cool charts & graphs. Plus, the integration of "breaks' helps keep me productive.
Getting a free copy of "noise machine" was a nice, unexpected bonus and helps block out background distractions.
The updates are regular and show that the developer is committed to making this application continue to sparkle.
I rate it a solid 5 stars!
Mar 3 2011
Version: 1.52
My favorites:
• Reminders - sounds and speech
• Noise Machine - eliminate disruptive environment noises.
• Vitamin-R license owners have full access
to Noise Machine standalone app soundscapes
• Statistics
• Dropbox syncing
Highly recommend!
I only wish to have Vitamin-R on my iPhone. Maybe it'll become reality one day...
Mar 3 2011
Version: 1.52
My favorites:
• Reminders - sounds and speech
• Noise Machine - eliminate disruptive environment noises.
• Vitamin-R license owners have full access to Noise Machine standalone app soundscapes
• Statistics
• Dropbox syncing
Highly recommend!
I only wish to have Vitamin-R on my iPhone. Maybe it'll become reality one day...
Mar 2 2011
Version: 1.52
feature-rich, customizable, unobtrusive and very good-looking.... works together with Things or OF in respect to task processing... very nice little helper assisting the focussing process... very nice
Jan 26 2011
Version: 1.44
1.44 also fixes the "Check for Updates" and the "Run as a Dockless Applications" which went missing in the last update.
Jan 19 2011
Version: 1.41
Still remains tops in its field. Great for logging work completed in addition to the timing of work and breaks. Contains a bit more bells than I want or need, but I still use this all the time as an aid to concentration.
Dec 9 2010
Version: 1.38
I find doing work in front of a computer distracting. Vitamin-r helps me focus.
I picked up Vitamin-r as part of the back to school bundle on here. I started using it mostly for an online tutoring job I have that requires me to common on students essays in a timely manner. The timer and ticking sounds helps keep me on track. I've started to use it with other projects as well.
I haven't tried out some of the other features just but am pleased with it and the regular updates. Thanks!
Dec 7 2010
Version: 1.38
Great product with regular updates! Reports or logs of activities has recently been added. Nice for those board reports.
This is a solid app that keeps being developed.
If you are looking for something like this app, I doubt you will find one that has grown as much as this one has in the past year.
Oct 23 2010
Version: 1.32
The update procedure is so flawed that it has cost me much more than the use of the program has ever benefitted me. Upgraded from the program sticks the dialog box to install and restart behind the "Now and Later Board," where it's completely impossible to interact with. Downloading a new version loses my license code, with no obvious way to input it. Thank you and goodbye.
Oct 7 2010
Version: 1.31
For me it is a kind of convenience app. You can also use an alarm clock, software or hardware, to take a break; and if you work on paper you can take it with you. The integration of Things' and Omnifocus' to-do-lists is nice, unfortunately I don't use these, which also means I cannot comment on the quality of the synchronization feature. The log book is nice, the noise machine is... does someone use it?
The writing boards are something that you use if you don't have Things or some such, otherwise I think it breaks up the information and you start spreading over several applications.
Fast type is buggy. While it works if you write top to bottom, as soon as you remove tabs or insert something, funny things happen, especially when inserting some "fast type" code.
I don't feel comfortable with giving a rating (stars), because for these kind of apps it is not helpful, as everyone has a very different working style.
Oct 6 2010
Version: 1.31
I love Vitamin-R, along with the "Pomodoro technique" it helps me every day to concentrate on my work. The only feature missing I'd like to see implemented is a better way of seeing how many blocks of time I have done during the day... a summary screen that might look something like:
October 6:
(o)' 10:30 - (o)' 11:00 - (o)' 11:30 - (o)' 12:00
The (o)' is just an icon of a tomato in my mind ^__^ it could be everything else of course.
Sep 28 2010
Version: 1.30
Love the noise generator! Great stuff!
If I may, I saw that it was updated and got excited about what the new features might be. However, I have to say that I haven't used Vitamin-R lately because of the steps it takes to complete an action.
It's a lot!
Enter Objective
Eliminate Distractions (Uncheck all)*
Choose Length
Start
I think it is the Eliminate Distractions one that gets me. I use Spirited Away (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/15844/spirited-away) to hide my applications and this step is an extra bit of clicking and moving my mouse.
Can this be streamlined somehow? Or can it be a preference? I need this to be a little more intuitive with keyboard commands so that the flow is quick and easy.
I love the idea and about 90% of the implementation, but if I don't use it b/c it is cumbersome to navigate, what good is having it?
Thank you!
Sep 1 2010
Version: 1.27
Great tool, out of the way as expected. iCal ToDos integration would be great!
Aug 18 2010
Version: 1.26
Frequency of updates is getting a bit silly. There is one every few days and very few changes in each.
Jun 8 2010
Version: 1.12
An odd little app, this one, but unlike most odd little apps it really does work. I suppose you might call it the front-end to a psychological theory of how attention (focus, productivity, call it what you will) actually works, rather than how it *might* work.
Like the celebrated (and, to my mind, rather overwrought) GTD, Vitamin-R adopts, and tries to enforce, a simple principle: AIM LOW.
Don't say "I'll devote the next five years to writing that Great Novel". DO say "I'll devote the next fifteen minutes to writing the opening of Some Novel Which May Possibly Be Just About Okay."
Vitamin-R keeps you on that track. Fifteen minutes in, it says "Take a break". I find after a couple of weeks that 80% of the time, I'm overriding it, and saying "No! I want to keep working! Give me another 15 minutes!".
It's a simple idea. So are the basics of human reproduction. The process, in both cases, is diverting, and the results, in both cases, rather impressive. Highly recommended and as a previous poster said, saved me the cost of buying a licence first time I used it.
Oh, and the developer is *very* responsive.
Apr 26 2010
Version: 1.04
Really like this. Does help me see where my time goes.
A few improvements:
1) Make the GUI a little more "maclike." Rounded corners, etc.
2) Add a pause button. What person doesn't occasionally get a phone call or interruption in a task that only takes about a minute or two.
3) RE above: Pause caused when screensaver starts as option. I use Proximity and my screensaver starts when I walk away (with my iPhone). It would be cool to pause in this manner as well.
4) REALLY need to have the fields for Time Slice, Now, Later, Scratchpad be able to start out blank. I hate having to select all and then typing. I should just be able to start typing.
That would do it for now. : ]
Thanks!!
Apr 23 2010
Version: 1.03
Great Program! I think adding "isolator" functionality would make this package perfect. I use vit R with isolator program. Being able to black out the background in addition to app hiding will be a nice feature to add.
Apr 21 2010
Version: 1.02
Been using this everyday now for several weeks and really like it. Really helps me to focus on the task at hand. I basically only use the objective timing function right now, but the other components look intriguing. I feel this is a better app than Concentrate, because it gives me better control of my work environment and the way I do things.
The developer, Frank, is really open and responsive to suggestions and very quick with replies if you encounter glitches or have some input for him.
A very nice app for a very good price. Oh yeah, the logging feature rocks!
Apr 20 2010
Version: 1.02
This app is great. I've used it for about two days, and it has already paid for itself. My kudos to the author.
Apr 20 2010
Version: 1.01
I am loving Vitamin-R! It has revolutionized my ability to stay on-task and actually get work done!! I'm still floored at how effective it is in motivating me to chug through tasks I've been putting off for months.
Aside from my full-time jobs, I have a home business that I do on the weekends and evenings. I have really struggled staying focused when I'm home. I desperately needed a tool to help me stay focused and away from Twitter, emails, TV and all the other distractions on my computer. I thought To-Do apps would help me out, but all they have done is show me all the stuff I still need to do. Knowing and seeing everything I need to do often just sends me into a tailspin of feeling completely overwhelmed so I procrastinate. I have great excuses such as "I'm too tired after working a full-day. I'll get started tomorrow evening." This has happened so many times in the past year or so that my business is really suffering. I know I could be doing so much more and generating so much more business if I would just apply myself.
Well, I discovered Vitamin-R recently and put it to work this weekend and all day yesterday which was a day off for me. This is a brilliant app and a very well-thought out 1.0 release. I'm excited to take it with me to my two other jobs as I know it will make me much more productive there as well.
Apr 17 2010
Version: 1.0
I can't download this because I'm on 10.4, but I checked out the video on the developer's site, and it sounds interesting. The philosophy behind this software sounds a lot like Andy Hunt's 'Pragmatic Thinking' approach. See, for instance:
http://www.amazon.com/Pragmatic-Thinking-Learning-Refactor-Programmers/dp/1934356050
Apr 17 2010
Version: 1.0
• About the "Vitamin-R" Screencast / Video / Tutorial:
Follow the "Visit Developer's Site" link above and then look for the caption: "The Vitamin-R Approach."
ATB!
Steven @ EZ411 ツ
http://EZ411.tumblr.com
Apr 17 2010
Version: 1.0
I've been testing Vitamin-R for a few days now and, since it's on MacZot today, I bought it. I'm quite impressed with its potential, most specially the produced logs (to keep track of your best/worse producing time) and nice IU. Also, the developer seems to be very enthusiastic about it, with lots of ideas/features to include.
It will be interesting, on the medium/long run, to see how my workflow and Vitamin-R interact. In a few weeks I guess I'll know. I'll reserve a full review for then.
Apr 3 2010
Version: 0.6
Okay.
I've taken the time to use this (now that some previous issues have been resolved) and I like it. Unobtrusive interface is helpful in getting me to concentrate on a particular task, event. It logs usage as well, so it helps to look at what I've been able to accomplish.
Concentrate is nice, but I like the greater control over apps and behavior that Vitamin-R offers. It is also much easier to get up and running.
Not sure about the Now & Later Board, as I've not used this feature.
I bought the app and decided to spend a bit more and get the lifetime upgrade package.
Mar 30 2010
Version: 0.4
This would be super-duper if it had what it now has plus the features of Office Time and Concentrate. I generally have Concentrate run the other things I need on or off, Office Time to keep time records and for which client, Blackout to control screen luminosity and focus and now Vitamin-R. Guess I just found a great productivity mix! If any of the above had some or all of the other's functionality they'd be a whole lot better.
Mar 24 2010
Version: 0.01b1
Hmmm...looks interesting. Keeping an eye on this one.
$27.95Buy Now
App requirements:
- Intel 64
- OS X 10.11.0 or later
License:
Paid • One-Time Purchase
Downloaded & Installed 105,309 times
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