Beams

Beams is a Mac menu bar productivity app that transforms how you navigate your workday by providing intelligent assistance right from your screen's top bar. Think of it as your personal work assistant that understands your schedule, habits, and priorities.

The app integrates seamlessly with Google Calendar, Slack, and Gmail to offer real-time insights about your day. It shows upcoming meetings, suggests focus time based on your calendar gaps, and helps you join video calls instantly with keyboard shortcuts. Beyond basic calendar management, Beams includes smart features like automatic Slack status updates during focus sessions, daily goal tracking, and meeting preparation reminders.

Founded by Berlin-based team Mihri Minaz and Jana Schellong, Beams focuses on mindful productivity principles. The app learns your work patterns and provides personalized suggestions to help you maintain better work habits while reducing stress and distractions.

Getting started with Beams is straightforward and requires minimal setup. First, download the app from the Mac App Store and grant it access to your Google Calendar account. The app will immediately appear in your menu bar, showing your daily schedule.

Here's how to maximize Beams:

• Meeting Management: See upcoming meetings at a glance and join with Command+Shift+J shortcut or single click

• Focus Mode: Click the focus icon or use shortcuts to enter 30-minute distraction-free sessions that automatically update your Slack status

• Daily Goals: Set up to three priority goals each morning and track completion throughout the day

• Smart Notifications: Get gentle reminders about meeting prep, unread emails from participants, or schedule changes

• Calendar Health: Review weekly insights about meeting patterns and time allocation

The app works best when you connect all three integrations (Calendar, Slack, Gmail) for complete workflow automation. Beams learns your patterns over time and provides increasingly personalized suggestions for better work habits and improved focus periods.

• Daily meeting overview in menu bar with one-click join

• Focus mode with automatic Slack status and calendar blocking

• Daily goal setting and reflection tracking

• Smart meeting reminders and preparation alerts

• Calendar health analytics and insights

• Gmail integration for participant email updates

• Keyboard shortcuts for all major functions

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