🧲

5+ Ways to use Opal with shortcuts

Shortcuts is a popular app used to build automatic workflows for your personal and professional life. Opal now offers Session Shortcuts, which means it is easier than ever to integrate Opal into your daily routines and block distracting apps. There are endless possibilities of what you can build with Opal Shortcuts, but here are a few examples to get started.

Start an Opal Session automatically when you turn on Do Not Disturb 🌙

Combining Opal Sessions and Do Not Disturb has been a great combination for our gems in an effort to achieve maximum focus. So, what if Opal could turn on as soon as you turned on Do Not Disturb? Here is how you would enable that:

‍
You would use Shortcut Automations for this.

Open Shortcuts App
Select the Automations Tab
Select Create Personal Automation

Scroll down and tap Do Not Disturb

Keep "When Turning On" enabled, and tap Next

Tap "Add Action"

Select "Start Session"

Select the blue arrow next to "Start an Opal session"

Tap on "Choose" and select one of your session modes
Tap "Next"
Toggle off "Ask before running"
Tap "Done"

Success! Now when you enable Do Not Disturb, an Opal session will start up automatically 💎

Start an Opal Session automatically when you arrive at work 💼

Professionals around the world rely on Opal to stay focused and do their best work. What if Opal could turn on as soon as you arrived at work? Here is how you would enable that:

Again, you would use Shortcut Automations for this.

Open Shortcuts App
Select the Automations Tab
Select Create Personal Automation

Scroll down and tap "Arrive"

Tap "Choose"

Select your desired location
Tap "Next"

Tap "Add Action"

Search for "Opal"

Select "Start Session"

Select the blue arrow next to "Start an Opal session"

Tap on "Choose" and select one of your session modes
Tap "Next"
Tap "Done"

Note: Opal does not have access to any location data. Shortcuts simply recognizes your location, and instructs Opal to start a session.

Start an Opal Session automatically when you open a specific app 🧘

Opening one of your favorite apps for some quality screen-time? Whether you're going to meditate with Headspace, draw with Lake, or read with Kindle, blocking distractions with Opal will let you stay present in your activity.

You would use Shortcut Automations for this.

Open Shortcuts App
Select the Automations Tab
Select Create Personal Automation

Select "App"

Tap "Choose" and select your app (Headspace, Lake, etc)

Keep "Is Opened" toggled
Select "Add Action"

Search for "Opal"

Select "Start Session"

Select the blue arrow next to "Start an Opal session"

Tap on "Choose" and select one of your session modes
Tap "Next"
Toggle off "Ask before running"
Tap "Done"

Start an Opal Session and a Focus Playlist at the same time 🎵

Create the perfect environment for productivity by removing digital distractions and queuing up some of your favorite Lo-Fi beats.

Open this link on you iPhone and you will be able to add this shortcut to your library.

Install Focus Music + Opal Shortcut

(This shortcut requires Apple Music)

If you have trouble, here are the full instructions to create it from scratch.

Since we will trigger this shortcut manually, use a regular Shortcut here.

Open Shortcuts App
Select the My Shortcuts tab
Tap the + in the top right
Name your shortcut
Tap "Add Action"
Search for "Opal"
Select "Start Session"
Choose Mode
Add another action
Search Apple Music

Start an Opal Session and send a message to a loved one to let them know you'll be off the grid ❤️

Being disconnected for long periods of time, although calming, can worry our loved ones, in a time where we are almost always accessible at the tap of a finger. So, before starting a long Opal session, sending a quick message to a parent, friend, or significant other could help alleviate that stress.

Open this link on you iPhone and you will be able to add this shortcut to your library.

Install Going Offline Shortcut

If you have trouble, here are the full instructions to create it from scratch.

Since we will trigger this shortcut manually, use a regular Shortcut here.