diff --git a/focus.go b/focus.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51a3a37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/focus.go
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// FocusTimer suppresses notifications for a configurable duration.
+// Thread-safe via mutex.
+type FocusTimer struct {
+	mu      sync.Mutex
+	expires time.Time
+}
+
+// Set activates focus mode for duration d.
+func (f *FocusTimer) Set(d time.Duration) {
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	defer f.mu.Unlock()
+	f.expires = time.Now().Add(d)
+}
+
+// IsActive returns true if focus mode has not expired.
+func (f *FocusTimer) IsActive() bool {
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	defer f.mu.Unlock()
+	return time.Now().Before(f.expires)
+}
+
+// Remaining returns how much focus time is left. Returns 0 if expired.
+func (f *FocusTimer) Remaining() time.Duration {
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	defer f.mu.Unlock()
+	rem := time.Until(f.expires)
+	if rem < 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return rem
+}
diff --git a/focus_test.go b/focus_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c4af891
--- /dev/null
+++ b/focus_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestFocusTimer_Set(t *testing.T) {
+	var ft FocusTimer
+	ft.Set(30 * time.Minute)
+	if !ft.IsActive() {
+		t.Error("IsActive() = false after Set(30min), want true")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFocusTimer_Expired(t *testing.T) {
+	var ft FocusTimer
+	ft.Set(0)
+	if ft.IsActive() {
+		t.Error("IsActive() = true after Set(0), want false")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFocusTimer_Remaining(t *testing.T) {
+	var ft FocusTimer
+	ft.Set(30 * time.Minute)
+	rem := ft.Remaining()
+	if rem <= 0 {
+		t.Errorf("Remaining() = %v, want > 0", rem)
+	}
+	if rem > 30*time.Minute {
+		t.Errorf("Remaining() = %v, want <= 30min", rem)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFocusTimer_ZeroValue(t *testing.T) {
+	var ft FocusTimer
+	if ft.IsActive() {
+		t.Error("zero-value FocusTimer IsActive() = true, want false")
+	}
+	if ft.Remaining() != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("zero-value Remaining() = %v, want 0", ft.Remaining())
+	}
+}
diff --git a/notify.go b/notify.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..df91988
--- /dev/null
+++ b/notify.go
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Notifier sends desktop notifications.
+type Notifier interface {
+	Notify(title, body string) error
+}
+
+// ExecNotifier calls notify-send via os/exec.
+type ExecNotifier struct{}
+
+func (n *ExecNotifier) Notify(title, body string) error {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	return exec.CommandContext(ctx, "notify-send",
+		"--urgency=critical",
+		"--app-name=vmux",
+		title,
+		body,
+	).Run()
+}
+
+// NullNotifier discards all notifications (for tests and focus mode).
+type NullNotifier struct{}
+
+func (n *NullNotifier) Notify(_, _ string) error {
+	return nil
+}
+
+// shortName returns a human-readable short name for a session.
+// Prefers Label if set, otherwise uses the last component of Cwd.
+func shortName(s SessionInfo) string {
+	if s.Label != "" {
+		return s.Label
+	}
+	return filepath.Base(s.Cwd)
+}
diff --git a/notify_test.go b/notify_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fec90c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/notify_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestExecNotifier_CallsNotifySend(t *testing.T) {
+	n := &ExecNotifier{}
+	// We cannot actually run notify-send in tests, but we verify
+	// the struct implements the Notifier interface and the method exists.
+	var _ Notifier = n
+	// The actual call would require a display; just verify it compiles and returns.
+	// Integration test with real notify-send is manual.
+}
+
+func TestNullNotifier_DropsAll(t *testing.T) {
+	n := &NullNotifier{}
+	var _ Notifier = n
+	err := n.Notify("title", "body")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("NullNotifier.Notify() = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestShortName_Label(t *testing.T) {
+	s := SessionInfo{Label: "auth"}
+	got := shortName(s)
+	if got != "auth" {
+		t.Errorf("shortName(Label=auth) = %q, want %q", got, "auth")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestShortName_Cwd(t *testing.T) {
+	s := SessionInfo{Cwd: "/home/pierre/Code/vibe/vmux"}
+	got := shortName(s)
+	if got != "vmux" {
+		t.Errorf("shortName(Cwd=.../vmux) = %q, want %q", got, "vmux")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestShortName_LabelOverridesCwd(t *testing.T) {
+	s := SessionInfo{Label: "review", Cwd: "/home/pierre/Code/vibe/vmux"}
+	got := shortName(s)
+	if got != "review" {
+		t.Errorf("shortName(Label+Cwd) = %q, want %q", got, "review")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestShortName_Empty(t *testing.T) {
+	s := SessionInfo{}
+	got := shortName(s)
+	if got != "." {
+		t.Errorf("shortName(empty) = %q, want %q", got, ".")
+	}
+}