Connect BusyBox to the tools you already use. Learn how integrations with IFTTT, Stream Deck, Google Calendar, and Microsoft Teams help automate your focus time and reduce interruptions.
Focus Time Shouldn’t Rely on Willpower
You don’t need another thing to remember.
If you’re already time-blocking your calendar, using a Stream Deck to launch your workflows, or setting up IFTTT automations to streamline your day, adding BusyBox to your setup is the next step … or step-up … for your setup.
Why? Because protecting your focus shouldn’t require extra effort.
BusyBox fits right into your stack and helps your space match your schedule. When you’re in a meeting, in deep work, or live on camera, your BusyBox lights up automatically to let others know: not now.
What Is BusyBox?
BusyBox is a smart, connected visual sign that helps you communicate when you’re unavailable, without saying a word. It lights up with a customizable message, like “Busy,” “Recording,” or “On a Call.”
You can control it via:
- 📲 The BusyBox mobile app
- 🎙 Voice assistants like Google or Siri
- 🎛 Elgato Stream Deck
- 📅 Google Calendar
- 🔁 Automation tools like IFTTT
- 🖥️ Windows + MS Teams (manual toggle, with automated support coming)
The result? A workspace that works with your schedule.
Why Automation Matters
Turning on a sign might seem simple. But if you forget to do it, the interruption happens anyway.
With integrations, BusyBox can turn on automatically when:
- Your calendar says “Meeting” or “Focus”
- Your Stream Deck scene switches to “Recording”
- Your phone gets a call (Android only for now … c’mon Apple, let us access this!)
- You clock in with your time-tracking app (using Stream Deck or IFTTT)
- You launch Slack, Zoom or Teams (“/busy” in Teams to turn on, “/available” to turn off)
“I don’t even think about it anymore. My setup triggers my BusyBox before I sit down and really allows me to stay in the zone.” — BusyBox user, software engineer
This isn’t just about productivity. It’s about reducing mental friction so your brain can stay where it belongs … in the work.
Top BusyBox Integrations
IFTTT (If This Then That)
Build custom automations with thousands of tools and services.
Examples:
- Work from home day? You can light up your office BusyBox remotely so others know.
- Turn it off at 6:00 p.m. automatically
- Set a Pomodoro timer and have BusyBox reflect focus/break states
Elgato Stream Deck
Perfect for creators, podcasters, and streamers.
Examples:
- Hit “Record” on your Stream Deck and your BusyBox lights up
- Assign different message presets to different Stream Deck buttons (e.g. “On Air,” “Editing,” “Focus Time”)
📅 Google Calendar
Sync focus sessions or meetings.
Examples:
- Turn BusyBox on for every event marked “Focus” or “Deep Work”
- Auto-light it up during Zoom or MS Teams calls
- Turn it off when your next block is to take a break or check emails
🖥 Microsoft Teams
BusyBox integrates directly with Microsoft Teams. You can even control it on the fly, just type:
- /busy — to turn your BusyBox on
- /available — to turn it off
Perfect for live calls, deep work sessions, or toggling focus mode without leaving the Teams chat window. It’s fast, easy, and designed to fit into your existing workflow.
Real-World Automation Setups
👨💻 Developer Workflow
Google Calendar + IFTTT triggers BusyBox every weekday from 9–11 a.m. for deep work. Lights turn yellow at 10:50 to ease the transition.
🎙 Creator Setup
Stream Deck button triggers camera, mic, lighting, and BusyBox. One button rules them all.
🧠 Remote Team Sync
BusyBox lights up during team standups, 1:1s, or heads-down blocks. Even Slack can control your status (or send a custom message/status).
3 Tips to Automate Focus with BusyBox
- Start with One Trigger
Use your calendar or Stream Deck first, then add complexity over time. - Make It a Habit Anchor
Let the light serve as your “start work” ritual. Automation adds reliability. - Name Your Modes
Assign different messages to match your work state. “Coding,” “Meeting,” “On Air,” “Break Time.”
Want Focus That Works While You Work?
BusyBox isn’t just a visual sign. It’s part of your productivity system, syncing with your tools to create less friction and more flow.
No more forgetting to flip a sign.
No more accidental interruptions during your best work.
Just quiet clarity, built into your routine.
FAQ: BusyBox + Automation
Q: What if I don’t use IFTTT? The app works great on its own, but IFTTT lets you build custom logic with no coding. Google Calendar sync is a good first step.
Q: Is there an API? Not yet, but we’re building toward an open ecosystem. For now, IFTTT, Stream Deck, Slack, and Google Calendar cover most use cases, but there are edge cases where an API is perfect.
Q: Can I have different modes or colors? Yes! The BusyBox D allows full-color, custom messages. You can also schedule brightness changes to save battery. The BusyBox S has many (21) messages we make, and you can make your own if you’re DIY capable. There are also customizable light color and modulation modes.
Smart tools are only smart if they work with your brain.
BusyBox doesn’t try to make you remember one more thing. It becomes part of your flow, helping your tools talk to your space.
Because boundaries shouldn’t just exist. They should be automatic.
