diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index ca4f837..f2c2b83 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ desktop = ["dep:notify-rust"]
 [dependencies]
 anyhow = "1.0.86"
 chrono = "0.4.38"
+humantime = "2.1.0"
 libpt = { version = "0.6.0", features = ["cli"] }
 notify-rust = { version = "4.11.0", optional = true }
 ratatui = "0.27.0"
diff --git a/src/clock.rs b/src/clock.rs
index 7369ad6..42c9e59 100644
--- a/src/clock.rs
+++ b/src/clock.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 use chrono::{DateTime, Local, SubsecRound, Timelike};
 use clap::Parser;
+use humantime;
 use libpt::cli::args::HELP_TEMPLATE;
 use libpt::cli::clap::ArgGroup;
 use libpt::cli::{args::VerbosityLevel, clap};
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ impl Default for TimeBarLength {
 /// Make your terminal into a big clock
 #[derive(Parser, Debug, Clone)]
 #[command(help_template = HELP_TEMPLATE, author, version)]
-#[clap(group( ArgGroup::new("timebarlen") .args(&["minute","day", "hour", "custom", "count_up"]),))]
+#[clap(group( ArgGroup::new("timebarlen") .args(&["minute","day", "hour", "custom", "countdown"]),))]
 #[allow(clippy::struct_excessive_bools)] // the struct is for cli parsing and we already use an
                                          // ArgGroup
 pub struct Clock {
@@ -58,16 +59,23 @@ pub struct Clock {
     pub timer: bool,
 
     // timebar options
+    /// show a time bar that tracks progress of the minute
     #[clap(short, long)]
     pub minute: bool,
+    /// show a time bar that tracks progress of the day
     #[clap(short, long)]
     pub day: bool,
+    /// show a time bar that tracks progress of the hour
     #[clap(short = 'o', long)]
     pub hour: bool,
-    #[clap(short, long)]
-    pub custom: Option<i64>,
-    #[clap(short = 'u', long)]
-    pub count_up: Option<i64>,
+    /// show a time bar that tracks progress of a custom duration
+    #[clap(short, long, value_parser = humantime::parse_duration)]
+    pub custom: Option<std::time::Duration>,
+    /// show a time bar that tracks progress of a custom duration without resetting
+    #[clap(short = 'u', long, value_parser = humantime::parse_duration)]
+    pub countdown: Option<std::time::Duration>,
+
+    // internal variables
     #[clap(skip)]
     pub(crate) last_reset: Option<DateTime<Local>>,
     #[clap(skip)]
@@ -134,11 +142,14 @@ impl Clock {
             Some(TimeBarLength::Day)
         } else if self.hour {
             Some(TimeBarLength::Hour)
-        } else if self.count_up.is_some() {
-            self.count_up.map(TimeBarLength::Countup)
+        } else if self.countdown.is_some() {
+            Some(TimeBarLength::Countup(
+                self.countdown.unwrap().as_secs() as i64
+            ))
         } else {
-            // this feels weird but is the same
-            self.custom.map(TimeBarLength::Custom)
+            Some(TimeBarLength::Custom(
+                self.countdown.unwrap().as_secs() as i64
+            ))
         }
     }