diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md
index 8b0d8cd..a5aa36d 100644
--- a/Readme.md
+++ b/Readme.md
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ Inspired by the book [Deep Work](http://calnewport.com/books/deep-work/) from Ca
 
 Currently only working with Mac OS X, more variety to come soon.
 
+## Set-Up
+
+create a config file under ~/.deepwork/config.json and add the names of all communication applications. An example config can be found in [example-config.json](example-config.json)
+
 ## Usage
 
 Close all communication apps to enter a focused working state.
diff --git a/example-config.json b/example-config.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..152e2a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example-config.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "affectedApps": [
+    "Mail",
+    "Rocket.Chat+",
+    "Calendar"
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index d306b40..f80a5a8 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -1,21 +1,44 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"log"
 	"os"
+	"strings"
+
+	homedir "github.com/mitchellh/go-homedir"
 )
 
+var configLocation string
+
+type config struct {
+	AffectedApps []string `json:"affectedApps"`
+}
+
 func main() {
-	affectedApps := []string{"Mail", "Rocket.Chat+", "Calendar"}
+	// Get Users homedirectory
+	configLocation, err := homedir.Dir()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("Could not determine users home directory: %v", err)
+	}
+	configLocation += "/.deepwork/config.json"
 
-	var action func(name string) error
+	// Parse Configuration
+	config, err := parseConfig(configLocation)
 
-	flag.Parse()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("Could not parse config file: %v", err)
+	}
 
+	// Parse Command Line Flags
+	flag.Parse()
 	desStage := flag.Arg(0)
 
+	// Determine desired action
+	var action func(name string) error
 	switch desStage {
 	case "on":
 		action = CloseApp
@@ -26,10 +49,49 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
-	for _, app := range affectedApps {
+	// Execute action
+	for _, app := range config.AffectedApps {
 		err := action(app)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Printf("Could not close app %s: %v", app, err)
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func parseConfig(configLocation string) (config, error) {
+	var conf config
+	jsonFile, err := os.Open(configLocation)
+	defer jsonFile.Close()
+	if err != nil {
+		// Check if there is already a config file => harmless case, just create default conf
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			defaultConfig := []byte(`{"affectedApps":["Mail","Calendar"]}`)
+
+			// Create required directories if necessary
+			if err = os.Mkdir(strings.TrimRight(configLocation, "/config.json"), 0744); err != nil {
+				return config{}, fmt.Errorf("Could not create required directories for config: %v", err)
+			}
+			// Write File
+			if err = ioutil.WriteFile(configLocation, defaultConfig, 0644); err != nil {
+				return config{}, fmt.Errorf("Could not write default config: %v", err)
+			}
+			// Call itself again to parse newly created conf
+			return parseConfig(configLocation)
+		}
+		// Otherwise (e.g. no permissions on conf file), return the error
+		return config{}, err
+	}
+
+	confByte, err := ioutil.ReadAll(jsonFile)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return config{}, fmt.Errorf("Could not read config: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	err = json.Unmarshal(confByte, &conf)
+	if err != nil {
+		return config{}, fmt.Errorf("Could not parse config: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	return conf, nil
+}