diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index a5869c1..04ac662 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ tracing = "0.1.41"
 tracing-subscriber = { version = "0.3.19", features = ["env-filter"] }
 directories = "5.0.1"
 clap = { version = "4.5.40", features = ["derive"] }
-time = { version = "0.3.41", features = ["formatting", "local-offset"] }
+time = { version = "0.3.41", features = ["formatting", "local-offset", "parsing", "macros"] }
 notify-rust = "4.11.7"
 rodio = { version = "0.20.1", features = [
     "symphonia-mp3",
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1ed93c1..bcce097 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -87,19 +87,34 @@ timr-tui --help
 Usage: timr-tui [OPTIONS]
 
 Options:
-  -c, --countdown <COUNTDOWN>        Countdown time to start from. Formats: 'ss', 'mm:ss', or 'hh:mm:ss'
-  -w, --work <WORK>                  Work time to count down from. Formats: 'ss', 'mm:ss', or 'hh:mm:ss'
-  -p, --pause <PAUSE>                Pause time to count down from. Formats: 'ss', 'mm:ss', or 'hh:mm:ss'
-  -d, --decis                        Show deciseconds.
-  -m, --mode <MODE>                  Mode to start with. [possible values: countdown, timer, pomodoro, localtime]
-  -s, --style <STYLE>                Style to display time with. [possible values: full, light, medium, dark, thick, cross, braille]
-      --menu                         Open the menu.
-  -r, --reset                        Reset stored values to default values.
-  -n, --notification <NOTIFICATION>  Toggle desktop notifications. Experimental. [possible values: on, off]
-      --blink <BLINK>                Toggle blink mode to animate a clock when it reaches its finished mode. [possible values: on, off]
-      --log [<LOG>]                  Directory to store log file. If not set, standard application log directory is used (check README for details).
-  -h, --help                         Print help
-  -V, --version                      Print version
+  -c, --countdown <COUNTDOWN>
+          Countdown time to start from. Formats: 'ss', 'mm:ss', 'hh:mm:ss'
+      --countdown-target <COUNTDOWN_TARGET>
+          Countdown targeting a specific time in the future or past. Formats: 'yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss', 'yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm', 'hh:mm:ss', 'hh:mm', 'mm' [aliases: --ct]
+  -w, --work <WORK>
+          Work time to count down from. Formats: 'ss', 'mm:ss', 'hh:mm:ss'
+  -p, --pause <PAUSE>
+          Pause time to count down from. Formats: 'ss', 'mm:ss', 'hh:mm:ss'
+  -d, --decis
+          Show deciseconds.
+  -m, --mode <MODE>
+          Mode to start with. [possible values: countdown, timer, pomodoro, localtime]
+  -s, --style <STYLE>
+          Style to display time with. [possible values: full, light, medium, dark, thick, cross, braille]
+      --menu
+          Open menu.
+  -r, --reset
+          Reset stored values to defaults.
+  -n, --notification <NOTIFICATION>
+          Toggle desktop notifications. Experimental. [possible values: on, off]
+      --blink <BLINK>
+          Toggle blink mode to animate a clock when it reaches its finished mode. [possible values: on, off]
+      --log [<LOG>]
+          Directory for log file. If not set, standard application log directory is used (check README for details).
+  -h, --help
+          Print help
+  -V, --version
+          Print version
 ```
 
 Extra option (if `--features sound` is enabled by local build only):
diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index 08bd3c2..057a6dc 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ use crate::{
     args::Args,
     common::{AppEditMode, AppTime, AppTimeFormat, ClockTypeId, Content, Style, Toggle},
     constants::TICK_VALUE_MS,
+    duration::DirectedDuration,
     events::{self, TuiEventHandler},
     storage::AppStorage,
     terminal::Terminal,
@@ -28,7 +29,6 @@ use ratatui::{
 };
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::time::Duration;
-use time::OffsetDateTime;
 use tracing::{debug, error};
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ impl From<FromAppArgs> for App {
                 None => {
                     if args.work.is_some() || args.pause.is_some() {
                         Content::Pomodoro
-                    } else if args.countdown.is_some() {
+                    } else if args.countdown.is_some() || args.countdown_target.is_some() {
                         Content::Countdown
                     }
                     // in other case just use latest stored state
@@ -121,13 +121,28 @@ impl From<FromAppArgs> for App {
             initial_value_pause: args.pause.unwrap_or(stg.inital_value_pause),
             // invalidate `current_value_pause` if an initial value is set via args
             current_value_pause: args.pause.unwrap_or(stg.current_value_pause),
-            initial_value_countdown: args.countdown.unwrap_or(stg.inital_value_countdown),
+            initial_value_countdown: match (&args.countdown, &args.countdown_target) {
+                (Some(d), _) => *d,
+                (None, Some(DirectedDuration::Until(d))) => *d,
+                // reset for values from "past"
+                (None, Some(DirectedDuration::Since(_))) => Duration::ZERO,
+                (None, None) => stg.inital_value_countdown,
+            },
             // invalidate `current_value_countdown` if an initial value is set via args
-            current_value_countdown: args.countdown.unwrap_or(stg.current_value_countdown),
-            elapsed_value_countdown: match args.countdown {
-                // reset value if countdown is set by arguments
-                Some(_) => Duration::ZERO,
-                None => stg.elapsed_value_countdown,
+            current_value_countdown: match (&args.countdown, &args.countdown_target) {
+                (Some(d), _) => *d,
+                (None, Some(DirectedDuration::Until(d))) => *d,
+                // `zero` makes values from `past` marked as `DONE`
+                (None, Some(DirectedDuration::Since(_))) => Duration::ZERO,
+                (None, None) => stg.inital_value_countdown,
+            },
+            elapsed_value_countdown: match (args.countdown, args.countdown_target) {
+                // use `Since` duration
+                (_, Some(DirectedDuration::Since(d))) => d,
+                // reset values
+                (_, Some(_)) => Duration::ZERO,
+                (Some(_), _) => Duration::ZERO,
+                (_, _) => stg.elapsed_value_countdown,
             },
             current_value_timer: stg.current_value_timer,
             app_tx,
@@ -140,13 +155,6 @@ impl From<FromAppArgs> for App {
     }
 }
 
-fn get_app_time() -> AppTime {
-    match OffsetDateTime::now_local() {
-        Ok(t) => AppTime::Local(t),
-        Err(_) => AppTime::Utc(OffsetDateTime::now_utc()),
-    }
-}
-
 impl App {
     pub fn new(args: AppArgs) -> Self {
         let AppArgs {
@@ -171,7 +179,7 @@ impl App {
             app_tx,
             footer_toggle_app_time,
         } = args;
-        let app_time = get_app_time();
+        let app_time = AppTime::new();
 
         Self {
             mode: Mode::Running,
@@ -292,7 +300,7 @@ impl App {
         // Closure to handle `TuiEvent`'s
         let mut handle_tui_events = |app: &mut Self, event: events::TuiEvent| -> Result<()> {
             if matches!(event, events::TuiEvent::Tick) {
-                app.app_time = get_app_time();
+                app.app_time = AppTime::new();
                 app.countdown.set_app_time(app.app_time);
                 app.local_time.set_app_time(app.app_time);
             }
diff --git a/src/args.rs b/src/args.rs
index dd5f860..502bc1d 100644
--- a/src/args.rs
+++ b/src/args.rs
@@ -14,17 +14,22 @@ pub const LOG_DIRECTORY_DEFAULT_MISSING_VALUE: &str = " "; // empty string
 #[command(version)]
 pub struct Args {
     #[arg(long, short, value_parser = duration::parse_duration,
-        help = "Countdown time to start from. Formats: 'ss', 'mm:ss', or 'hh:mm:ss'"
+        help = "Countdown time to start from. Formats: 'ss', 'mm:ss', 'hh:mm:ss'"
     )]
     pub countdown: Option<Duration>,
 
+    #[arg(long, visible_alias = "ct", value_parser = duration::parse_duration_by_time,
+        help = "Countdown targeting a specific time in the future or past. Formats: 'yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss', 'yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm', 'hh:mm:ss', 'hh:mm', 'mm'"
+    )]
+    pub countdown_target: Option<duration::DirectedDuration>,
+
     #[arg(long, short, value_parser = duration::parse_duration,
-        help = "Work time to count down from. Formats: 'ss', 'mm:ss', or 'hh:mm:ss'"
+        help = "Work time to count down from. Formats: 'ss', 'mm:ss', 'hh:mm:ss'"
     )]
     pub work: Option<Duration>,
 
     #[arg(long, short, value_parser = duration::parse_duration,
-        help = "Pause time to count down from. Formats: 'ss', 'mm:ss', or 'hh:mm:ss'"
+        help = "Pause time to count down from. Formats: 'ss', 'mm:ss', 'hh:mm:ss'"
     )]
     pub pause: Option<Duration>,
 
@@ -37,10 +42,10 @@ pub struct Args {
     #[arg(long, short = 's', value_enum, help = "Style to display time with.")]
     pub style: Option<Style>,
 
-    #[arg(long, value_enum, help = "Open the menu.")]
+    #[arg(long, value_enum, help = "Open menu.")]
     pub menu: bool,
 
-    #[arg(long, short = 'r', help = "Reset stored values to default values.")]
+    #[arg(long, short = 'r', help = "Reset stored values to defaults.")]
     pub reset: bool,
 
     #[arg(
@@ -76,7 +81,7 @@ pub struct Args {
         // this value will be checked later in `main`
         // to use another (default) log directory instead
         default_missing_value=LOG_DIRECTORY_DEFAULT_MISSING_VALUE,
-        help = "Directory to store log file. If not set, standard application log directory is used (check README for details).",
+        help = "Directory for log file. If not set, standard application log directory is used (check README for details).",
         value_hint = clap::ValueHint::DirPath,
     )]
     pub log: Option<PathBuf>,
diff --git a/src/common.rs b/src/common.rs
index a65e720..0365851 100644
--- a/src/common.rs
+++ b/src/common.rs
@@ -118,6 +118,14 @@ impl From<AppTime> for OffsetDateTime {
 }
 
 impl AppTime {
+    #[allow(clippy::new_without_default)]
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        match OffsetDateTime::now_local() {
+            Ok(t) => AppTime::Local(t),
+            Err(_) => AppTime::Utc(OffsetDateTime::now_utc()),
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn format(&self, app_format: &AppTimeFormat) -> String {
         let parse_str = match app_format {
             AppTimeFormat::HhMmSs => "[hour]:[minute]:[second]",
diff --git a/src/duration.rs b/src/duration.rs
index bf3f3c5..efaeff8 100644
--- a/src/duration.rs
+++ b/src/duration.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ use color_eyre::{
 use std::fmt;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
+use crate::common::AppTime;
+
 pub const ONE_DECI_SECOND: Duration = Duration::from_millis(100);
 pub const ONE_SECOND: Duration = Duration::from_secs(1);
 pub const ONE_MINUTE: Duration = Duration::from_secs(SECS_PER_MINUTE);
@@ -34,6 +36,15 @@ pub const MAX_DURATION: Duration = ONE_YEAR
     .saturating_mul(1000)
     .saturating_sub(ONE_DECI_SECOND);
 
+/// `Duration` with direction in time (past or future)
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum DirectedDuration {
+    /// Time `until` a future moment (positive `Duration`)
+    Until(Duration),
+    /// Time `since` a past moment (negative duration, but still represented as positive `Duration`)
+    Since(Duration),
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialOrd)]
 pub struct DurationEx {
     inner: Duration,
@@ -177,45 +188,136 @@ impl fmt::Display for DurationEx {
     }
 }
 
+/// Parse seconds (must be < 60)
+fn parse_seconds(s: &str) -> Result<u8, Report> {
+    let secs = s.parse::<u8>().map_err(|_| eyre!("Invalid seconds"))?;
+    ensure!(secs < 60, "Seconds must be less than 60.");
+    Ok(secs)
+}
+
+/// Parse minutes (must be < 60)
+fn parse_minutes(m: &str) -> Result<u8, Report> {
+    let mins = m.parse::<u8>().map_err(|_| eyre!("Invalid minutes"))?;
+    ensure!(mins < 60, "Minutes must be less than 60.");
+    Ok(mins)
+}
+
+/// Parse hours
+fn parse_hours(h: &str) -> Result<u8, Report> {
+    let hours = h.parse::<u8>().map_err(|_| eyre!("Invalid hours"))?;
+    Ok(hours)
+}
+
+/// Parses `DirectedDuration` from following formats:
+/// - `yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss`
+/// - `yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm`
+/// - `hh:mm:ss`
+/// - `hh:mm`
+/// - `mm`
+///
+/// Returns `DirectedDuration::Until` for future times, `DirectedDuration::Since` for past times
+pub fn parse_duration_by_time(arg: &str) -> Result<DirectedDuration, Report> {
+    use time::{OffsetDateTime, PrimitiveDateTime, macros::format_description};
+
+    let now: OffsetDateTime = AppTime::new().into();
+
+    let target_time = if arg.contains('-') {
+        // First: `YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS`
+        // Then: `YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM`
+        let format_with_seconds =
+            format_description!("[year]-[month]-[day] [hour]:[minute]:[second]");
+        let format_without_seconds = format_description!("[year]-[month]-[day] [hour]:[minute]");
+
+        let pdt = PrimitiveDateTime::parse(arg, format_with_seconds)
+            .or_else(|_| PrimitiveDateTime::parse(arg, format_without_seconds))
+            .map_err(|e| {
+                eyre!("Invalid datetime '{}'. Use format 'yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss' or 'yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm'. Error: {}", arg, e)
+            })?;
+        pdt.assume_offset(now.offset())
+    } else {
+        // Parse time parts: interpret as HH:MM:SS, HH:MM, or SS
+        let parts: Vec<&str> = arg.split(':').collect();
+
+        let (hour, minute, second) = match parts.as_slice() {
+            [mm] => {
+                // Single part: treat as minutes in current hour
+                let m = parse_minutes(mm)?;
+                (now.hour(), m, 0)
+            }
+            [hh, mm] => {
+                // Two parts: treat as HH:MM (time of day)
+                let h = parse_hours(hh)?;
+                let m = parse_minutes(mm)?;
+                (h, m, 0)
+            }
+            [hh, mm, ss] => {
+                // Three parts: HH:MM:SS
+                let h = parse_hours(hh)?;
+                let m = parse_minutes(mm)?;
+                let s = parse_seconds(ss)?;
+                (h, m, s)
+            }
+            _ => {
+                return Err(eyre!(
+                    "Invalid time format. Use 'hh:mm:ss', 'hh:mm', or 'mm'"
+                ));
+            }
+        };
+
+        now.replace_time(
+            time::Time::from_hms(hour, minute, second).map_err(|_| eyre!("Invalid time"))?,
+        )
+    };
+
+    let mut duration_secs = (target_time - now).whole_seconds();
+
+    // `Since` for past times
+    if duration_secs < 0 {
+        duration_secs *= -1;
+        Ok(DirectedDuration::Since(Duration::from_secs(
+            duration_secs as u64,
+        )))
+    } else
+    // `Until` for future times,
+    {
+        Ok(DirectedDuration::Until(Duration::from_secs(
+            duration_secs as u64,
+        )))
+    }
+}
+
 /// Parses  `Duration` from `hh:mm:ss`, `mm:ss` or `ss`
 pub fn parse_duration(arg: &str) -> Result<Duration, Report> {
-    let parts: Vec<&str> = arg.split(':').rev().collect();
+    let parts: Vec<&str> = arg.split(':').collect();
 
-    let parse_seconds = |s: &str| -> Result<u64, Report> {
-        let secs = s.parse::<u64>().map_err(|_| eyre!("Invalid seconds"))?;
-        ensure!(secs < 60, "Seconds must be less than 60.");
-        Ok(secs)
-    };
-
-    let parse_minutes = |m: &str| -> Result<u64, Report> {
-        let mins = m.parse::<u64>().map_err(|_| eyre!("Invalid minutes"))?;
-        ensure!(mins < 60, "Minutes must be less than 60.");
-        Ok(mins)
-    };
-
-    let parse_hours = |h: &str| -> Result<u64, Report> {
-        let hours = h.parse::<u64>().map_err(|_| eyre!("Invalid hours"))?;
-        ensure!(hours < 100, "Hours must be less than 100.");
-        Ok(hours)
-    };
-
-    let seconds = match parts.as_slice() {
-        [ss] => parse_seconds(ss)?,
-        [ss, mm] => {
+    let (hours, minutes, seconds) = match parts.as_slice() {
+        [ss] => {
+            // Single part: seconds only
             let s = parse_seconds(ss)?;
-            let m = parse_minutes(mm)?;
-            m * 60 + s
+            (0u64, 0u64, s as u64)
         }
-        [ss, mm, hh] => {
-            let s = parse_seconds(ss)?;
+        [mm, ss] => {
+            // Two parts: MM:SS
             let m = parse_minutes(mm)?;
+            let s = parse_seconds(ss)?;
+            (0u64, m as u64, s as u64)
+        }
+        [hh, mm, ss] => {
+            // Three parts: HH:MM:SS
             let h = parse_hours(hh)?;
-            h * 60 * 60 + m * 60 + s
+            let m = parse_minutes(mm)?;
+            let s = parse_seconds(ss)?;
+            (h as u64, m as u64, s as u64)
+        }
+        _ => {
+            return Err(eyre!(
+                "Invalid time format. Use 'ss', 'mm:ss', or 'hh:mm:ss'"
+            ));
         }
-        _ => return Err(eyre!("Invalid time format. Use 'ss', mm:ss, or hh:mm:ss")),
     };
 
-    Ok(Duration::from_secs(seconds))
+    let total_seconds = hours * 3600 + minutes * 60 + seconds;
+    Ok(Duration::from_secs(total_seconds))
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -330,8 +432,46 @@ mod tests {
         // errors
         assert!(parse_duration("1:60").is_err()); // invalid seconds
         assert!(parse_duration("60:00").is_err()); // invalid minutes
-        assert!(parse_duration("100:00:00").is_err()); // invalid hours
         assert!(parse_duration("abc").is_err()); // invalid input
         assert!(parse_duration("01:02:03:04").is_err()); // too many parts
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parse_duration_by_time() {
+        // YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS - future
+        assert!(matches!(
+            parse_duration_by_time("2050-06-15 14:30:45"),
+            Ok(DirectedDuration::Until(_))
+        ));
+
+        // YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM - future
+        assert!(matches!(
+            parse_duration_by_time("2050-06-15 14:30"),
+            Ok(DirectedDuration::Until(_))
+        ));
+
+        // HH:MM:SS - past
+        assert!(matches!(
+            parse_duration_by_time("2000-01-01 23:59:59"),
+            Ok(DirectedDuration::Since(_))
+        ));
+
+        // HH:MM - Until or Since depending on current time
+        assert!(parse_duration_by_time("18:00").is_ok());
+
+        // MM - time in current hour returns Until
+        assert!(matches!(
+            parse_duration_by_time("45"),
+            Ok(DirectedDuration::Until(_))
+        ));
+
+        // errors
+        assert!(parse_duration_by_time("60").is_err()); // invalid seconds
+        assert!(parse_duration_by_time("24:00").is_err()); // invalid hours
+        assert!(parse_duration_by_time("24:00:00").is_err()); // invalid hours
+        assert!(parse_duration_by_time("2030-13-01 12:00:00").is_err()); // invalid month
+        assert!(parse_duration_by_time("2030-06-32 12:00:00").is_err()); // invalid day
+        assert!(parse_duration_by_time("abc").is_err()); // invalid input
+        assert!(parse_duration_by_time("01:02:03:04").is_err()); // too many parts
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/widgets/clock.rs b/src/widgets/clock.rs
index 0205a30..f6355e8 100644
--- a/src/widgets/clock.rs
+++ b/src/widgets/clock.rs
@@ -511,6 +511,10 @@ impl ClockState<Countdown> {
     }
 
     pub fn get_percentage_done(&self) -> u16 {
+        if Duration::is_zero(&self.initial_value.into()) {
+            return 0;
+        }
+
         let elapsed = self.initial_value.saturating_sub(self.current_value);
 
         (elapsed.millis() * 100 / self.initial_value.millis()) as u16