diff --git a/src/config.py b/src/config.py
index 33a65a9..1c5bfc4 100644
--- a/src/config.py
+++ b/src/config.py
@@ -245,6 +245,7 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     thinking_distill_every: int = 10  # distill facts from thoughts every Nth thought
     thinking_issue_every: int = 20  # file Gitea issues from thoughts every Nth thought
     thinking_memory_check_every: int = 50  # check memory status every Nth thought
+    thinking_idle_timeout_minutes: int = 60  # pause thoughts after N minutes without user input
 
     # ── Gitea Integration ─────────────────────────────────────────────
     # Local Gitea instance for issue tracking and self-improvement.
diff --git a/src/dashboard/routes/agents.py b/src/dashboard/routes/agents.py
index 31bd7ed..ac2e00b 100644
--- a/src/dashboard/routes/agents.py
+++ b/src/dashboard/routes/agents.py
@@ -85,6 +85,14 @@ async def chat_agent(request: Request, message: str = Form(...)):
 
         raise HTTPException(status_code=422, detail="Message too long")
 
+    # Record user activity so the thinking engine knows we're not idle
+    try:
+        from timmy.thinking import thinking_engine
+
+        thinking_engine.record_user_input()
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+
     timestamp = datetime.now().strftime("%H:%M:%S")
     response_text = None
     error_text = None
diff --git a/src/dashboard/routes/chat_api.py b/src/dashboard/routes/chat_api.py
index 9e047a9..b77fbeb 100644
--- a/src/dashboard/routes/chat_api.py
+++ b/src/dashboard/routes/chat_api.py
@@ -79,6 +79,14 @@ async def api_chat(request: Request):
     if not last_user_msg:
         return JSONResponse(status_code=400, content={"error": "No user message found"})
 
+    # Record user activity so the thinking engine knows we're not idle
+    try:
+        from timmy.thinking import thinking_engine
+
+        thinking_engine.record_user_input()
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+
     timestamp = datetime.now().strftime("%H:%M:%S")
 
     try:
diff --git a/src/timmy/thinking.py b/src/timmy/thinking.py
index 7ac8a57..9a87265 100644
--- a/src/timmy/thinking.py
+++ b/src/timmy/thinking.py
@@ -210,6 +210,7 @@ class ThinkingEngine:
     def __init__(self, db_path: Path = _DEFAULT_DB) -> None:
         self._db_path = db_path
         self._last_thought_id: str | None = None
+        self._last_input_time: datetime = datetime.now(UTC)
 
         # Load the most recent thought for chain continuity
         try:
@@ -220,6 +221,17 @@ class ThinkingEngine:
             logger.debug("Failed to load recent thought: %s", exc)
             pass  # Fresh start if DB doesn't exist yet
 
+    def record_user_input(self) -> None:
+        """Record that a user interaction occurred, resetting the idle timer."""
+        self._last_input_time = datetime.now(UTC)
+
+    def _is_idle(self) -> bool:
+        """Return True if no user input has occurred within the idle timeout."""
+        timeout = settings.thinking_idle_timeout_minutes
+        if timeout <= 0:
+            return False  # Disabled — never idle
+        return datetime.now(UTC) - self._last_input_time > timedelta(minutes=timeout)
+
     async def think_once(self, prompt: str | None = None) -> Thought | None:
         """Execute one thinking cycle.
 
@@ -237,6 +249,14 @@ class ThinkingEngine:
         if not settings.thinking_enabled:
             return None
 
+        # Skip idle periods — don't count internal processing as thoughts
+        if not prompt and self._is_idle():
+            logger.debug(
+                "Thinking paused — no user input for %d minutes",
+                settings.thinking_idle_timeout_minutes,
+            )
+            return None
+
         memory_context = self._load_memory_context()
         system_context = self._gather_system_snapshot()
         recent_thoughts = self.get_recent_thoughts(limit=5)