Stay Focused App/Site Blocker

So I got this as an adult with ADHD and have grown significant phone addiction since covid started. After still wasting too much time on my phone in spite of asking my husband to change my Apple ID pw, giving my phone away for lent (too much of my life is on my phone), and trying various consequences for myself with accountability partners, I tried Stay Focused. It’s very helpful. I gave only 4 stars, even though it seems like the best product out there because once the time is done, you can’t get more time until the next day—you can’t even ask the password holder for more time, thus complicating any household peace. I love and need this aspect Here is my wish list: I want to be able to block and set a time limit the safari app. I want to be able to block any websites I choose—like write-ins rather than drop downs (like they have all manner of web based Facebook sites you can block, but not x.com) I also wish that I could set specific times per each app rather than one time limit that includes all apps. I also wish that I could not be able to delete the app without my Apple ID pw, which my husband has control of, per my request. I think I can manage that reasonably, but I would feel safer if I couldn’t. If I were trying to control a child’s phone addiction, this would be useless the moment s/he figured out that the controls could be turned off by deleting the app. Of course the parent would see it when they check in, so not entirely useless, but requires more complexity when there may be plenty of other battles over which the parent would rather die than this one.

There are many ways to approach this app, it has multiple levels of control and techniques to achieve your goals with reducing screen time. Here’s what I like: •The schedule function is great for blocking off work, lunch, breaks etc. at your job. •The expiration setting + Strict Mode is great way to brick your phone for a good chunk of time, it even allows you to prevent app install/uninstalling so you don’t cheat. • The app selection feature makes is SO EASY to choose all the apps you want to block. No cumbersome workflow - chose the app, set the method on blocking, and boom. Done. The thing I wanted from an app like this is to have no way of making changes once the decision is made, so I am forced to leave my phone and be productive. This is why Strict Mode has been a lifesaver for me, I want to have zero ways of opening the apps with no workarounds and that’s exactly what it does. IMO, this app is worth the couple of bucks a month and in the week and a half since buying this I have used it every single day to focus on work, my personal goals, and even things like chores. When I have no distraction to keep delaying action, the work gets done faster and I don’t end up in a decisions/anxiety loop. It allows for more time for me to do as I wish or even better, block off time to work on low dopamine personal things (drawing, organizing, journaling, etc). I was not paid to say any of this, I rarely leave reviews, all I can say is that this was the type of app I’ve been looking for and it has helped me a lot. I am chronically on my phone and it feels like a breath of fresh air to have control over it. I have already seen the results of using it, it has lowered anxiety/decision paralysis and just for that alone I will continue to use it.

Yes 7 hours. It has a motivational quote during the lock mode that helps. I like the strict mode because it really keeps me on track by not allowing apps to be available until after the time expires. No 5 star rating because it crashes a lot. I don’t know if that’s an iOS thing but it’s not difficult to work around it for now. Also iOS has a limit of 50 individual apps to block. You can block a whole categories of apps but this app will group an important app with less important ones.