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How to Use Forest to Stay Focused

Forest gives you a simple reason not to touch your phone: don't let the tree die. Here's how it works.

  1. Set your focus time

    Open the Forest app and set how long you want to stay focused.

  2. Plant a tree

    Tap "Plant" and a small sapling starts growing on screen.

  3. Resist using your phone

    Leaving the app or opening another app during your set time causes the tree to wither.

  4. Build your own forest

    Every completed session adds a fully grown tree, and over time those trees build up into your own virtual forest.

  5. Why it's useful

    It turns the urge to check your phone into a simple visual stake β€” not wanting to kill the tree β€” which makes building a focus habit for study or work feel more like a game than a chore.

A visual trick that actually works

The core idea is simple: leaving the app kills your growing tree, and that small, visible loss is often a more effective deterrent than willpower alone. Seeing a forest of completed sessions build up over weeks also gives a satisfying record of how much focused time you have actually put in.

Some versions plant real trees too

Certain versions of the app let you spend in-app currency earned from completed sessions to fund the planting of actual trees through partner organizations, adding a real-world incentive on top of the personal one. Availability of this feature varies by platform and region.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I leave the app during a session?

Your virtual tree withers and the session ends early, though most versions let you choose whether to end it right away or after one warning.

Does the app actually plant real trees?

Some versions let accumulated in-app currency fund real tree planting through partner programs β€” check the specific app version and region for details, since this feature isn't universal.