Auto-send focus time reminder emails
You block deep work time on your calendar. Notis emails you a reminder to close Slack, silence notifications, and protect those hours—no interruptions.
Trigger
Calendar Event Sync
Polling trigger that returns full event data including details, attendees, and metadata. For real-time notifications with basic info, use Calendar Event Changes (webhook).
Action
Send Email
Sends an email via gmail api using the authenticated user's google profile display name, requiring `is html=true` if the body contains html and valid `s3key`, `mimetype`, `name` for any attachment.
Why this helps
You block time for deep work but forget about it. Suddenly you're in meetings, and your focus block is wasted. No one respects boundaries you haven't communicated.
- Protect deep work time by reminding yourself when focus blocks arrive so you actually honor them
- Reduce context-switching by getting an explicit signal when it's time to focus, not check email
- Stay accountable to your own priorities by making focus blocks visible via email, not hidden in calendar
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Google Calendar and Gmail to Notis
- 2Tell Notis 'When I block time labeled 'Focus' or 'Deep Work', send me a reminder email'
- 3Select the trigger: Calendar Event Sync
- 4Customize the reminder message (e.g., 'Close Slack now,' 'No meetings for the next 2 hours')
- 5Test by creating a 'Deep Work' block and verifying you get the reminder email
Questions about this workflow
When should the email be sent—at the start of the block or before?
5-10 minutes before works best. Gives you time to wrap up current tasks and prepare to go deep. You can customize the timing.
Will this email interrupt my focus time?
It's meant as a nudge, not an interruption. Open it, read the reminder, then close email and commit to the focus block. It's a lightweight accountability signal.
Can I include what I'm supposed to focus on?
Yes. If you add notes to your focus block event, Notis can pull them into the reminder: 'Remember: You're working on X for the next 2 hours.'
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
Supported Triggers and Actions
Notis builds workflows that link Google Calendar to Gmail. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.
Google Calendar triggers
Gmail actions
Attendee Response Changed
Polling trigger that fires when any attendee's RSVP changes to accepted, declined, or tentative. Returns attendee info and current status.
Modify email labels
Adds and/or removes specified gmail labels for a message; ensure `message id` and all `label ids` are valid (use 'listlabels' for custom label ids).
Event Canceled or Deleted
Triggers when a Google Calendar event is cancelled or deleted. Returns minimal data: event_id, summary (if available), and cancellation timestamp.
Create email draft
Creates a gmail email draft, supporting to/cc/bcc, subject, plain/html body (ensure `is html=true` for html), attachments, and threading.
Event Starting Soon
Triggers when a calendar event is within a configured number of minutes from starting. Returns event details, time remaining, attendees, and join links when available.
Create label
Creates a new label with a unique name in the specified user's gmail account.
Calendar Event Changes
**SOON TO BE DEPRECATED** - Use Calendar Event Sync (polling trigger) instead. Real-time webhook trigger for calendar event changes. Returns event metadata only. For full event data, use Calendar Event Sync (polling trigger).
Delete Draft
Permanently deletes a specific gmail draft using its id; ensure the draft exists and the user has necessary permissions for the given `user id`.
Event Created
Polling trigger that fires when a new calendar event is created. Returns event ID, summary, start/end times, and organizer info.
Delete message
Permanently deletes a specific email message by its id from a gmail mailbox; for `user id`, use 'me' for the authenticated user or an email address to which the authenticated user has delegated access.
Calendar Event Sync
Polling trigger that returns full event data including details, attendees, and metadata. For real-time notifications with basic info, use Calendar Event Changes (webhook).
Fetch emails
Fetches a list of email messages from a gmail account, supporting filtering, pagination, and optional full content retrieval.
Event Updated
Triggers when an existing Google Calendar event is modified. Returns the event ID, change type, and the specific fields that changed with their previous and new values.
Fetch message by message ID
Fetches a specific email message by its id, provided the `message id` exists and is accessible to the authenticated `user id`.
Fetch Message by Thread ID
Retrieves messages from a gmail thread using its `thread id`, where the thread must be accessible by the specified `user id`.
Connect any two apps with Notis in the middle.
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When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
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