ClearSpace: Reduce Screen Time

I never write reviews, but this is needed because this app is amazing. First, it is free for students which I APPRECIATE SO MUCH. Not a discount off a subscription, but FREE. The creators are so generous. I nearly shed a tear at the quote on the redeem screen. Second, the exercise feature drastically dropped my scroll time. Its so much more stricter than Opals “wait for x seconds.” It actually blocks screentime and its hard to bypass (especially since the challenge feature makes you feel bad for breaking the streak) unlike other apps that barely do anything and only works if you buy the subscription. My only wish is 1, have a more detailed screentime tracker (mine is currently not showing the accurate time, not sure if its because i just turned on the pro subscription) which can exclude apps. I feel like that is the biggest flaw with the default apple screentime, that you cant exclude productive apps. 2, for the app to be limited to how long you use it rather than how much you open a distracting app. When I get a job this will be the first app I will be supporting.

I have used the Apple Screentime function for years without any change in behaviors because it was just so easy for me to override any limits. There’s no pause to the behavior with the flow. But with ClearSpace it is very methodically designed to procedurally provide a forced slowdown to mindfully choose your next step, and then further establishes a next level time limit even if you choose to use the app in question. I LOVE that if I choose to use one of my locked apps I have pre-determined amounts of use each day and when I use it for the length of time I choose it locks back up again! This feature is gold for accountability and follow-through. After using the free version and now the free trial, I will be going with the subscription. I feel like I am back in control of my phone usage, keeping all of the utilitarian benefits of my phone without the hazards. I was close to chucking it for a dumb phone, but with ClearSpace, I don’t feel like I have to make such an extreme change. Thank you!

I found this app on instagram where it was advertising its pushup for screentime feature. I was interested in that so I tried it out and I was disappointed with the result. The app uses a clucky looking kinematic tracker to track your limbs as you pushup. What I was put off was 1.) with my iPad it was really difficult to get the camera to point the right way when I was setting it up. It either made me look upside down or sideways, never right side up. After turning on autolock the problem persisted after some time but eventually was oriented correctly. 2.) You have to be in a certain distance away from your phone to do it. Im tall and have long limbs so I had to get really far away from my phone for the app to properly track my pushups. If I get any closer, my elbows will be out of frame and Ill get no credit for the push up. My apartment isnt the largest so to perform these pushups Id either have to move to certain rooms to do it. Maybe inconvenience will help reduce screentime but if I have to pay for this app to get its full benefits, Im looking for the accountability and physical activity tracking, and there is another app I’ve found that performs that better.