A Routine is a task you set up once, and Spear's agent runs on a schedule, using the tools you've connected, without you doing it manually each time.
Build a routine
Step 1: Open Routines
In the left panel, go to Setup > Routines. You can also click the Routines quick-action button under the composer on your agent home. To connect the tools (MCPs) a routine can use to take action, go to Setup > Tools.
Step 2: Fill in the routine
Click + New routine, then add a Name, a Description, and Instructions telling Spear what to do on each run (you can reuse a Skill you've already built with Insert Skill).
Under When it runs, choose how often it runs (every few hours, daily, every few days, weekly, or monthly) and pick a time of day. For routines that run several times a day, see Run a routine several times a day below.
Step 3: Save and test it
Click Save routine. Spear will ask "Test it now?". Click Run it now to open a new chat and watch the routine run once, or Not now to skip and let it run on its schedule.
Run a routine several times a day
A routine can run as often as every hour, so it reads data from your connected tools and acts closer to when things happen. For example, a routine can check your CRM or Clay for updates every few hours and add prospects to a sequence or send a message as soon as something changes.
Under When it runs, choose Every few hours (the first option in the list), then pick the interval: every 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, or 12 hours. For one run every 24 hours, choose Daily.
Start time: for every 2 hours or longer, pick the hour it starts from (shown as "from HH:00"). Spear lists the exact run times below the picker, for example "Runs at 03:00, 09:00, 15:00, 21:00". They repeat at the same hours every day.
Every hour: there is no start time to pick, so the hour picker is hidden.
Where you see it: the schedule reads "Every 6 hours from 03:00" (or "Every hour") on the Routines list, in the routine's details, and on play cards.
Keep it as infrequent as the task allows: every run is a full agent run that works on its own, so choose the longest interval that still catches changes in time.
If you ask the agent in chat to create a routine, it can set an hourly schedule too, and it will confirm a frequent schedule with you before saving.
What can a routine do?
Perform any task or skill you define, running automatically whenever you schedule it.
Use the tools you've connected to your agent to take real actions on your behalf.
Prefer not to start from scratch? Check out What are Spear Plays?, a catalog of ready-made routines you can add in one click and then customize.