Computer programs
Smartphone & tablet apps
Browser extensions
Notes
- The Edge and Brave browsers on laptop/desktop computer can install Chrome extensions.
- On Android, the Chrome browser cannot install extensions. Use Yandex or Kiwi instead. Or use Firefox.
Block or remove distractions
Block distracting websites or apps
For some time, block things you don’t want, or allow just the things you want.
Declutter your homescreen & desktop
Easily visually distracted? Rearrange and simplify your digital environment.
Limit notifications
Only receive notifications you really need, at the times you want to see them.
Cold Turkey Blocker
Most flexible tool for Mac/Windows. Blocks apps & websites. Powerful scheduling functionality.
Mac
PC
Try it:
Works on Windows & Mac, and all major browsers on your computer.
Very powerful and flexible blocking and scheduling. Does not collect user data.
Blocking apps and creating a weekly block schedule require the paid version.
What it can do:
- create lists of websites or apps to block, then initiate blocking manually (Free) or set a weekly schedule (Pro)
- show a motivational quote when you try to access a blocked website
- make it hard or impossible for you to override the block (e.g., requiring yourself to type in strings of random characters)
- you can add pomodoro-style breaks to blocking sessions
- has a mode that locks you out of your computer entirely
Price: Free: Block websites on a session basis.
Pro (£29, one-time): Block apps and schedule blocks.
Student discount: Request 20% off by clicking the link in the FAQ page https://getcoldturkey.com/support/
Freedom
Best option if you want one blocker that works across Mac/Windows/iOS/Android. Blocks apps & websites.
Android
iPhone / iPad
Mac
PC
Try it:
Has been in the game for a long time and one of the world’s most widely used blockers. Well designed and works across most devices.
Not free.
What it can do:
- create lists of websites or apps to block, then initiate blocking manually or set a weekly schedule
- show a motivational quote when you try to access a blocked website
- has many settings to stop future versions of yourself from overriding the blocking
- you can add pomodoro-style breaks to blocking sessions
- has a mode that prevents you from using your computer entirely
Price: Free: Trial 7 block sessions.
Pro ($8.99/month, $40/year, $99.50 one-time purchase): Check the website for discount codes.
Try it:
One of the first, and best, tools for blocking apps and websites on iOS.
Pushy with paid options. Can require a little trial and error to get it setup right.
What it can do:
- block apps or websites
- begin blocking manually, or automatically at specified times
- set daily usage limits
- can be sync’ed with Apple’s Focus Mode, so that an Opal block is turned on when you turn on focus mode
- can be sync’ed with a Chrome extension to block websites on laptop
Price: Free trial: 3 or 7 days. Pro: $9.99/week, $19.99/month, $99.99/year, $299/one-time.
Stay Focused
One of the best options for blocking on Android. Blocks apps & websites. Powerful customisation.
Android
iPhone / iPad
Try it:
Highly rated & reviewed on the Google Play Store. Has received positive feedback from ReDD workshop participants.
Some features may require in-app purchases.
What it can do:
- block apps, websites, and keywords in browser URL
- begin blocking manually, or automatically at specified times
- set daily usage limits
- “strict mode” prevents you from overriding blocks
Price: Free: Usage statistics, flexible app and website blocking.
Pro (£3.09/month, £12.99/year, £22.99/one time): Removes ads, unlimited usage limits, and more features.
iPhone / iPad
Mac
Allows you to block or turn on/off focus mode across a Mac, iPhone and iPads.
A little fiddly to set up. Slightly pricy for the pro version.
What it can do:
- create lists of websites or apps to block, then initiate blocking manually or set a weekly schedule
- can redirect you away from blocked websites (Pro)
Price: Free: Block one list of websites and apps on a session basis.
Pro ($3.99/month, $19.99/year, $49.99/one-time): Block unlimited lists, schedule functionality, redirect functionality, etc.
Android
iPhone / iPad
Decent alternative to Opal for blocking apps. The world’s first physical tag for unblocking apps.
None.
What it can do:
- block distracting apps on a schedule
- choose between 6 distraction barriers to override the block (e.g. shake your phone for some time, scan a unique QR code, use your Unpluq Tag on your keychain)
- you can get a physical tag (https://www.unpluq.com/tag/) where your apps are only unblocked if you have the tag present.
Price: Free: Block 2 apps, on one schedule, with a choice of 2 distraction barriers.
Pro (€4,99/month, €39,99/year): Block an unlimited amount of distracting apps, unlimited schedules, whitelist contacts, get access to all the distraction barriers (including the Unpluq Tag) and more.
Unpluq physical tag: €19,95.
Student discount: Email support@unpluq.com with proof of student enrolment for 50% off the Unpluq tag.
Made by Apple, so it’s built-in on iOS and Mac.
Limited scheduling functionality - you cannot set e.g. multiple block times on the same day.
On Mac, it requires Mac OS Catalina or higher
What it can do:
- set time limits for a category of apps (e.g., Games or Social Networking) or for individual apps or websites
- block apps and notifications during scheduled periods (‘Downtime’)
Price: Free.
Android
Made by Google, so it’s well-designed and possibly pre-installed on your Android device.
May only work on Android version 10 and up. Easy to override.
What it can do:
- limit how much time you spend in an app or on a website each day
- block distracting apps on session-basis, or set up a schedule so that distractions are automatically blocked during specific hours
Price: Free.
Try it:
Simple and reliable. Free and open source.
Only blocks websites. Only available on Mac.
What it can do:
- create lists of websites to block, then initiate blocking via a simple slide
- impossible to disable once set
Price: Free.
Android
iPhone / iPad
Mac
PC
Try it:
Good scheduling functionality by integrating with your calendar.
Can’t block apps, only websites.
What it can do:
- RescueTime’s primary function is time tracking, but the Premium version also has easy-to-use website blocking
- you can easily start a ‘FocusTime’ block manually, sync it with your calendar, or have it activate when certain criteria are met (e.g. activate for the rest of the day after you’ve spent 30 minutes on social media)
Price: Free: Time tracking.
Pro (14 day free trial, $12/month, $78/year): Allows access to all historical data and includes blocking features.
Try it:
Simple alternative to Apple’s Screen Time for website blocking.
Can’t block apps, and easy to override the blocking.
What it can do:
- easily add websites to a block list
Price: NA
Try it:
Simplest way to lock yourself into a full-screen writing program when you need to focus - like transforming your computer into a typewriter. Does not collect any user data.
Only useful when you require nothing more than a writing program. No formatting options in the free version.
What it can do:
- a full-screen, minimalistic writing program that you cannot leave until (a) you have typed a specific number of words, or (b) a specific length of time has passed
- you can import a text file into the program, so that you can use it to, e.g., do focused work on an essay draft for 30 minutes
Price: Free: Locks you into simple writing program.
Pro (£7, one-time): Adds themes, font formatting, productive soundtracks, etc.
Try it:
Works on Windows & Mac. Well-engineered, simple way to lock yourself into specific apps. Does not collect user data.
You can only lock yourself into apps; it cannot block websites. You may want to use Cold Turkey Blocker from the same developer instead.
What it can do:
- simple program that restricts you to using chosen apps on your computer for a length of time
Price: Free: Lets you lock yourself into 1 app for a duration of time.
Pro (£15, one-time): Lets you lock yourself into an unlimited number of apps (and also set up a break schedule).
Highest rated free blocker on Chrome Web Store & Firefox add-ons store. Does not collect user data. Open-source.
Only blocks websites in the Chrome, Firefox, or Edge browser.
What it can do:
- block websites
- begin a blocking session manually, or set up an automatic blocking schedule
- set a countdown timer that delays your access to websites instead of completely blocking them
- set a password to edit settings, to slow you down in moments of weakness where you want to override it
Price: Free.
Hide notification badges on your homescreen
Remove the stressful red notification badges in your homescreen, and review notifications on your own schedule.
iPhone / iPad
Try it:
- on iPhone/iPad go to “Settings” > “Notifications”
- scroll down and select the App you want to hide badges for
- toggle off “Badges”
No need to install anything, it’s an inbuilt functionality to get familiar with.
None
What it can do:
- decide which apps (if any) you would like to see notification badges for on your homescreen
Price: NA
Try it:
Simple way to reduce visual clutter and stay focused.
None
What it can do:
- automatically highlights the front app window by dimming all background windows
- dimming amount is customisable
Price: $4.99 one-time payment.
iPhone / iPad
Try it:
Simple way to reduce visual clutter. Does not collect user data.
Requires iOS 17.0 or later.
What it can do:
- replace your homescreen to a minimalistic list of your most important apps
Price: Free trial: 7 days.
Pro: $3.99/month, $13.99/year, $22.99/lifetime.
Try it:
Highly rated on the Google Play store.
None
What it can do:
- replace your homescreen to a minimalistic display of text
- filter notifications to only those you need
Price: Free: Everything you need.
Pro (£5.49, one-time): Additional customisation like hiding apps, pinning apps, and filing apps into folders.
iPhone / iPad
Android
Try it:
- if you normally open apps by searching for them, then you can stop that app from showing up in search, such that you instead have to go find it where you placed it on your phone
iOS: go to Settings > scroll down to the relevant app (e.g. Safari) > Siri & Search > turn off ‘Show App in Search’ and ‘Suggest App’
No need to install anything, it’s simply about organising your device layout.
None
What it can do:
- arrange your apps so that the home screen is minimalistic and simple, and the apps you want to use less often require a bit more effort to get to
- for example, try limiting your first page of apps to only apps you use for quick in-and-out tasks - move the rest, especially those you find yourself using mindlessly, off the first page and put them in folders
Price: NA
Try it:
- on your Mac, click the desktop, then choose View > Use Stacks or press Control-Command-0. You can also Control-click the desktop, then choose Use Stacks.
No need to install anything, it’s simply about organising your device layout.
None
What it can do:
- neatly organise files in your desktop into groups
- when you save a file to desktop, it is automatically added to the appropriate stack
Price: NA
Try it:
- on your Mac launch System Preferences and select the “Dock & Menu Bar” panel on the left
- check the box that reads “Automatically hide and show the Dock”
No need to install anything, it’s simply about organising your device layout.
None
What it can do:
- automatically hide your Mac’s dock
- to see it, simply move your mouse to the bottom of the screen
Price: NA
Try it:
- on Mac, click the green full-screen button to make an app run in full-screen - or click and hold to place two app windows side by side
- in the Safari browser on laptop, make a window full-screen, then click ‘View’ and untoggle ‘Always Show Toolbar in Full Screen’ (to make the toolbar appear again, bring your cursor to the top of the screen)
Nothing to install, simply a functionality to get familiar with.
None
What it can do:
- a basic trick for minimising visual distraction when working on laptop is to place apps you need in full screen mode
Price: NA
Free and open-source. Simple way to reduce visual clutter and stay focused.
None
What it can do:
- instantly blank or dims the parts of a web page or background windows that you are not focusing on
Price: Free.
Use Apple’s ‘Focus mode’
Filter notifications, and apps visible on the homescreen, based on what you are currently doing
iPhone / iPad
Mac
Try it:
No need to install anything, it’s an inbuilt functionality to get familiar with.
App notifications might still be partly visible when silenced, which can still be distracting. Easy to switch off.
What it can do:
- select which notifications you do and don’t want to receive
- create custom ‘focus’ modes for different purposes e.g. work, sleep, personal, where specific notifications are allowed
- customise your home screen so that only apps related to your ‘focus’ mode appear, and hide notification badges
- schedule ‘focus’ to activate at certain times, in particular locations, or when you open specific apps
- share your focus status with those who try to message you
Price: NA
Try it:
- on Google Pixel go to “Settings” > “Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls” > “Focus mode”, and then select the apps you’d like to pause and either “Turn On Now”, or “Set a Schedule”
- on Samsung Galaxy devices, go to “Settings” > “Modes and Routines” , then select a pre-existing mode or “Add Mode” and toggle on “Restrict App Usage”. Select the apps you want to use and receive notifications from, everything else will be blocked. “Turn On” to enable focus mode manually, or “Turn On Automatically” to create some conditions.
No need to install anything, it’s an inbuilt functionality to get familiar with.
None
What it can do:
- select apps to block/allow for when you want to focus
- set a schedule for focus mode to turn on/off automatically
Price: NA
Hide notification badges on your homescreen
Remove the stressful red notification badges in your homescreen, and review notifications on your own schedule.
iPhone / iPad
Try it:
- on iPhone/iPad go to “Settings” > “Notifications”
- scroll down and select the App you want to hide badges for
- toggle off “Badges”
No need to install anything, it’s an inbuilt functionality to get familiar with.
None
What it can do:
- decide which apps (if any) you would like to see notification badges for on your homescreen
Price: NA
Android
iPhone / iPad
Mac
PC
Try it:
- on iOS, go to Settings -> Notifications
- on Android, go to Settings -> Apps & notifications -> Notifications
Nothing to install, simply a systems setting to get familiar with.
No immediate downsides.
What it can do:
- go over your notifications settings and carefully consider which apps you will allow to notify you - toggle off any notifications you do not need
Price: NA
Use ‘Do Not Disturb’ to mute non-urgent notifications
Guard your daily routine against interruptions.
Android
iPhone / iPad
Mac
PC
Try it:
- set up schedule: on iOS go to Settings > Do Not Disturb ; on Android, swipe down from the top of your screen to open the notification shade, press and hold the Do Not Disturb icon, then open up ‘more settings’
- manual toggle: on iOS, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open up control center, then select the moon-shaped Do Not Disturb icon ; on Android, swipe down from the top of your screen to open the notification shade, and select the Do Not Disturb icon
Nothing to install, simply a systems setting to get familiar with.
If you easily worry about missing something important, it requires a little care in setting it up, so that the things you do want to let through always are in fact let through.
What it can do:
- schedule Do Not Disturb, so that during certain hours (e.g. 9pm to 8am) only calls from your favorite contacts go through directly:
- alternatively, manually toggle on Do Not Disturb when you need to focus
Price: NA
Hide message previews on your home screen
Stay aware that you’ve been contacted without getting sidetracked by the content.
iPhone / iPad
iPhone / iPad
Try it:
NA
None
What it can do:
- go over your notifications settings and carefully consider which apps you will allow to notify you - toggle off any notifications you do not need
Price: NA
Track yourself
Understand how you use your devices
Use a tracking tool to see how much time you spend in which apps at what times.
Focus in bursts with a timer
Use a countdown timer to be productive in short, manageable bursts.
Android
Made by Google, so it’s well-designed and possibly pre-installed on your Android device.
Limited ability to analyse your data.
What it can do:
Get a daily view of your digital habits:
- How frequently do you use different apps?
- How many notifications do you receive?
- How often do you check your phone or unlock your device?
Price: Free.
Try it:
- to inspect your use: on iOS go to Settings -> Screen Time; on Mac go to System Preferences -> Screen Time
- to combine use across devices, on your iOS devices go to Settings -> Screen Time, then toggle on Share Across Devices
Made by Apple, so it’s built-in on iOS and Mac.
Limited ability to analyse your data.
What it can do:
- allows you to inspect your use on iOS and Mac
- if you have multiple Apple devices, you can see your combined usage
Price: Free.
Try it:
Very well reviewed in tech magazines and blogs. User-friendly. You can download your data. Does not sell or share your data.
Few, apart from the general limitation that understanding your own behaviour often isn’t sufficient to change it.
What it can do:
- tracks time spent on your laptop or desktop computer and automatically categorises it in ‘productive’ and ‘not productive’ time
- receive weekly & annual summaries, and see how your patterns of use have changed over time
- can also block websites
Price: Free: Time tracking.
Pro (14 day free trial, $12/month, $78/year): Allows access to all historical data and includes blocking features.
Try it:
Highest ratings & most reviews among time tracking apps on Google Play.
Does not tell you which exact websites you spend time on within a specific web browsing app.
What it can do:
- view charts and statistics of your usage history
- notify you when you are spending more time in an app than a set limit
- export your usage history to CSV or Microsoft Excel file
Price: Free (in-app purchases & ads).
Very highly rated on the Apple App Store.
None.
What it can do:
- on iOS, provides a simple countdown interface, along with a to-do list and usage history
- on Mac, adds a simple icon to your menu bar that you can click to set yourself a task you’ll do and start a countdown timer
Price: Free
Pro ($0.99, one-time): Removes banners and ads.
Try it:
Highly rated on the Google Play store & recommended by students at Oxford.
None
What it can do:
- single-click time tracking for all of your activities
- split your projects into smaller tasks
- pomodoro timer, countdown timer, and many other productivity tools
- view detailed reports and statistics of all your tracked time
- view all of your tracked activities in a calendar
Price: Free.
Pro (£/one-time):
Try it:
Very highly rated on the Chrome Web Store.
Timer only appears on your web browser. May be too minimalistic.
What it can do:
- super minimalistic pomodoro timer: adds a little toolbar icon with a red countdown timer
- click this icon to start or stop a countdown timer; right click it to see your history or configure the timer durations
Price: Free.
Highly rated on the Firefox Add-ons Store. Open-source.
Timer only appears on your web browser.
What it can do:
- adds a toolbar icon, which can be clicked to start a timer
- you can see the number of minutes remaining on the countdown on the toolbar icon
Price: Free.
Try it:
Very highly rated on the Google Play store.
None
What it can do:
- minimalistic pomodoro timer with immersive full-screen mode
- customisable in most ways you might want (focus & break length, timer styles, daily reminders, notification sounds)
Price: Free.
Keep your goals in mind
Delay distracting apps and websites
Take a deep breath and stay mindful before you start using a distracting app or website.
Put quotes or to-do’s on new tabs or websites
Use a browser extension to change the content of new tabs or distracting websites.
Get pop-up or task bar reminders of your goals
Get a simple nudge to remind you of your goals, when you need it.
Redirect yourself away from distracting sites
Use a browser extension to send you to a useful website when you open a distracting one.
one sec
Delay the opening of specific apps or websites by a few seconds to remind yourself why you’re using it.
Android
iPhone / iPad
Chrome
Firefox
Safari
Very highly rated on the Google Play and Apple App stores. Evidence-based.
None
What it can do:
- delay the opening of a distracting app or website with a few seconds
- shows you how many times you’ve opened the app/website within the last 24hrs and asks if you still want to continue
Price: Free. Pro (£9.99/year): Lets you apply it to an unlimited number of apps, change to other prompts, and more.
clearspace
Make yourself take a deep breath when you open a distracting app, and automatically close the app after a set number of minutes
iPhone / iPad
Try it:
Rave reviews on the Apple App store.
Slightly tricky to set up, but clearspace has a video to walk you through it.
What it can do:
- redirect impulse clicks by enforcing a time buffer
- select the session length you need. clearspace pulls you out at the end, so you don’t get lost in the scroll
- track your progress over time with advanced analysis of your app usage patterns
Price: Free: Connect to only one app.
Pro (£6.99/month, £44.99/year): Unlimited connected apps, schedule usage of apps, advanced data insights.
iPhone / iPad
Chrome
Firefox
Safari
Very highly rated on the Apple App store.
Depending on how you use your browser, you may prefer to see recently visited websites, or other information, on new tabs.
What it can do:
- replaces the content of new tabs with a customisable start page with an inspirational image and your main focus for the day
Price: Free (in-app purchases).
Try it:
Very highly rated on the Chrome Web Store.
Depending on how you use your browser, you may prefer to see recently visited websites, or other information, on new tabs.
What it can do:
- replaces the content of new tabs with a clean and simple to-do list
Price: Free.
Try it:
Very highly rated on the Chrome Web Store.
Depending on how you use your browser, you may prefer to see recently visited websites, or other information, on new tabs.
What it can do:
- shows a new motivational quote every time you open a new tab - replaces the default content of new tabs
Price: Free.
Try it:
On the list of ‘recommended extensions’ curated by Firefox staff.
None
What it can do:
- replaces the content of new tabs with a motivational photo or image, but highly customisable
- can also add to-do lists or quick notes, work hours to count down the day, etc.
Price: Free.
Try it:
Very highly rated on the Chrome Web Store.
The developer noted on Jan 4, 2021 that he will update it to work again on Facebook, but has yet to do so.
What it can do:
- works on YouTube and Twitter (it used to work on Facebook, LinkedIn and other sites, but needs an update)
- replaces YouTube’s video recommendations, and Twitter’s feed, with a to-do list
- when you have completed all to-do’s, you unlock the recommendations / feed for 5 minutes
Price: Free.
Try it:
Highly rated on the Chrome Web Store.
Only applies to Chrome.
What it can do:
- set up ‘wormholes’ on distracting sites: either (1) Redirect (takes you to a more productive site which you specify), (2) Quote (shows a motivational quote), or (3) Timer (shows the time you’ve spent on the site today)
Price: Free.
Try it:
A new tool on the Firefox Add-ons store that provides a simple solution for setting a goal and keeping returning to it.
Cannot block sites in bulk.
What it can do:
- set a target webpage — the one you want to focus on — then block the sites that are distracting you away from it
- next time you try to access a site that you’ve blocked, Nudge will send you right back to your target page
Price: Free.
Try it:
Highly rated on the Apple App Store.
Only applies to Safari.
What it can do:
- set up your own redirect rules
Price: Free.
Pro (£1.99/year or £3.49 one-time purchase): Lets you sync rules across your iOS devices.
Try it:
Here’s an example of using the Shortcuts app to redirect you from Instagram to the Forest app after using it for 2 minutes.
- Open the Shortcuts app & press ‘Automation’ at the bottom of the screen
- Press ‘+’ in the top right, then ‘Create Personal Automation’, then scroll down and press ‘App’
- Press ‘Choose’, find and select the Instagram app, then press ‘Done’ and ‘Next’
- Press ‘Add action’, then search for and select ‘Wait’
- Click ‘1 second’ and press ‘+’ until it reaches 120 seconds
- Press ‘Search for apps and actions’, search for and select ‘Open App’
- Click ‘App’ and select ‘Forest’
- Press ‘Next’, and toggle off ‘Ask Before Running’, then press ‘Done’
Now, when you open Instagram, you will be redirected to the Forest app after 2 minutes.
The new ‘shortcuts’ app can be used to redirect yourself from any distracting app when certain conditions are met.
Can be a little tricky to set up.
What it can do:
- the shortcuts app lets you do most things if you’re creative and tech savvy
- for example you might set up a shortcut that says, every time you open “Instagram”, it waits 5 minutes, and then opens the “Forest” app.
Price: Free.
Make your goals attractive
Set up reward or punishment
Reward yourself for staying focused, e.g. by protecting a virtual plant or animal.
Go grey scale
Turn your device black and white to make it less visually attractive.
Write under time pressure
Set a time or word goal, then begin typing – if you stop early, everything is deleted.
Android
iPhone / iPad
Chrome
One of the most used (10M+ installs) and praised productivity apps on the Google Play, Chrome Web, and Apple App stores.
Some people might not find it motivating.
What it can do:
- a gamified productivity timer:
- plant a tree and set a duration of time where you want to focus and not use your smartphone / distracting websites (Chrome)
- If you stay focused without getting distracted before the time is up, you’ll get a beautiful, healthy tree; if you cannot resist using your phone, your tree will die
- grow your personal forest over time by being focused
Price: Free on Google Play, $1.99 on Apple App Store
Try it:
The most highly rated and reviewed alternative to Forest on the Apple App store.
Some people might not find it motivating.
What it can do:
- similar to Forest:
- plant a tree and set a duration of time where you want to focus and not use your smartphone
- if you commit to your task without getting distracted before the time is up, you’ll get a beautiful, healthy tree; if you cannot resist using your phone, your tree will wither
- unlock new trees over time by succesfully focusing
- multiple people can sync with each other and grow trees together
Price: Free (in-app purchases).
Try it:
- to switch your iPhone / iPad to grey scale, select Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Colour Filters, then toggle Colour Filters on and select Grayscale
- set a triple-tap on the Home / Power button to toggle grey scale on and off, by going to: Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut > Colour Filters
- to switch your Mac to grey scale, go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Display > Colour Filters, then select Greyscale and toggle Enable Colour Filters on.
- set a shortcut on Mac by going to System Preferences > Accessibility > Shortcut, and ensure Colour Filters is ticked. Now you can switch greyscale on and off by triple pressing the power button.
No need to install anything, it’s a simple systems setting.
Might be tedious to toggle on and off when colour is needed, if you do not set up an accessibility shortcut.
What it can do:
- putting your phone or laptop in grey scale can tone down the allure of apps and notification markers
- note that for this to be useful, you need to be able to toggle it on and off easily, because you will want to turn colour back on for some functionality (like maps)
Price: NA
Try it:
- on Android (v11&) add a gray scale toggle to your quick settings: (1) from the top of your screen, swipe down twice, (2) at the bottom left, tap Edit (3) touch and hold the grayscale symbol, then drag to where you want it
No need to install anything, it’s a simple systems setting.
NA
What it can do:
- most android phones will have a greyscale feature
- putting your phone in grey scale can tone down the allure of apps and notification markers
- note that for this to be useful, you need to be able to toggle it on and off easily, because you will want to turn colour back on for some functionality (like maps)
Price: NA
Try it:
Positive reviews in the Google Play store.
Slightly fiddly to set up.
What it can do:
- conveniently switch your devices display mode between colour and grey scale
- exclude certain applications from grey scale mode (e.g. photos)
- options to switch your phone to grey scale according to a time schedule, or when it reaches low battery
Price: Free.
Chrome
Firefox
Safari
Positive reviews in magazines from Wired to Lifehacker; nothing to install - just visit it in your web browser
Only useful for specific writing purposes.
What it can do:
- simulates the feeling of being so close to a deadline that you just need to keep going to get our your first draft
- if you stop typing for more than a few seconds before your reach your goal (typing for a number of minutes, or typing a number of words), everything is deleted
- very useful in those writing situations where you just need to bash out a rough draft, which you will then edit afterwards
Price: Free.
Loads of critical acclaim in tech magazines and very highly rated on the Apple App Store.
Only useful for specific writing purposes.
What it can do:
- choose how long you want to write (5, 15, 30 min), then enter a flow session
- if you exit early, or stop typing for longer than five seconds, all progress is lost
- the only way to save your work is by writing until the timer ends
- in this way, the app forces you into a state of flow
Price: £4.99 one-time payment.
Go analogue
Use your laptop for 2-factor authentication
So you can leave your smartphone at home when you work.
Block access to your laptop
For tech-free leisure time.
Try it:
- Below are instructions from the Oxford University IT services:
- You may need to check with your university for specific guidance
Leaving your smartphone at home can be a simple and effective way to stay focused, but Multi-Factor Authentication at your university might require you to bring it.
Can be slightly less secure, because an attacker with access to your physical laptop and its password could access your university services.
What it can do:
- use your laptop for multi-factor authentication device, via an app you install on it, or a physical USB you plug into it
- it is then sufficient for you to bring your laptop to the library
Price: Free.
Try it:
Works on Windows & Mac.
Very powerful and flexible blocking and scheduling.
Does not collect user data.
Creating a weekly block schedule requires the paid version.
What it can do:
- ‘Frozen Turkey’ mode lets you block your computer entirely
- initiate it manually until a specific time, or set a weekly schedule
Price: Free: Block on session basis.
Pro ($39, one-time): Schedule blocks.