What apps do you use to focus?

Question

As I find myself distracted this morning on this very website...Do you have a favorite app that cuts out distracting websites, helps you stay on task, helps you avoid lots of task switching, etc?I use OSX, but really I'm curious what people find useful.

surprisetalk · Accepted Answer

I made a CLI called nowify that might help:[0] https://taylor.town/nowify[1] https://github.com/surprisetalk/nowifyIt&rsquo;s pretty janky, but it might give you some ideas :)

puttycat · Answer

These two helped me the most:1. SelfControl - with complete block of all social media, news sites, etc. (took a while to compile a very long and thorough list, but now it's pretty solid)2. News Feed Eradicator extension for Firefox - to prevent being distracted when I intentionally go on social media for specific info.

brudgers · Answer

I am focused right now.Focused on HN.Of course that means I am not focused on one of the projects I am working on.It doesn't mean I am not focused.Recognizing the difference between being focused and working on a project is useful...or rather, I find recognizing the difference to be useful.Distractions are relative. A hobby project is a distraction from paying work. Email is a distraction from hanging out on HN. Updating Firefox is a distraction from Gmail. Gmail is a distraction from a hobby project...Interruptions are what break my flow states. Flow is about rhythm. For me, flow might be: focus a bit on the project, a bit on HN, a bit on the project, and so on.Anyway, the way I get more time focused is by working more hours. Thinking about efficiency is a distraction. Good luck.

nicbou · Answer

- SelfControl to block whole websites for up to a day. It's very effective and I have no idea of how to disable it once started
- uBlock Origin rules to block feeds and other distractions.
- Some redirect extension that takes me to the notifications page, skipping the feed
- Unhook to hide anything I don't want on YouTube: sidebar, comments, recommendations in search etc. Now I just have the videos from channels I'm subscribed to.
I list a few more things I've done to reduce distractions and make technology calmer: https://nicolasbouliane.com/blog/silence

r-physicist · Answer

I am using Firefox extension "LeechBlock" . Free and very flexible. Also for better analysis, my laptop time spending using activity watch
- https://www.proginosko.com/leechblock/
- https://activitywatch.net/

softwaredoug · Answer

I just made my own CLI that gives me a higher score if I don't switch apps in OSX. Kind of a different take on the problemhttps://github.com/softwaredoug/attend

achempion · Answer

My best focus app is Spotify and the same playlist I play everyday. Second best focus app is Apple Reminders, basically, when I have an urge to check something, I put it on a list and get back to the list once I have time in the evening.

rickcarlino · Answer

&ldquo;Freedom&rdquo; is a good paid option on Android. I am not satisfied with their iOS support as it did not integrate well with Firefox mobile but the experience was good overall on desktop and Android

kirubakaran · Answer

https://crushentropy.com/

ZunarJ5 · Answer

https://getcoldturkey.com/

gtirloni · Answer

NextDNS parental control / denylist

revskill · Answer

Webpack !It requires focus to details to debug.

What apps do you use to focus?

As I find myself distracted this morning on this very website...
Do you have a favorite app that cuts out distracting websites, helps you stay on task, helps you avoid lots of task switching, etc?
I use OSX, but really I'm curious what people find useful.

I made a CLI called nowify that might help:
[0] https://taylor.town/nowify
[1] https://github.com/surprisetalk/nowify
It’s pretty janky, but it might give you some ideas :)

I am using Firefox extension "LeechBlock" . Free and very flexible. Also for better analysis, my laptop time spending using activity watch
- https://www.proginosko.com/leechblock/
- https://activitywatch.net/

I just made my own CLI that gives me a higher score if I don't switch apps in OSX. Kind of a different take on the problem
https://github.com/softwaredoug/attend

My best focus app is Spotify and the same playlist I play everyday. Second best focus app is Apple Reminders, basically, when I have an urge to check something, I put it on a list and get back to the list once I have time in the evening.

“Freedom” is a good paid option on Android. I am not satisfied with their iOS support as it did not integrate well with Firefox mobile but the experience was good overall on desktop and Android

https://crushentropy.com/

https://getcoldturkey.com/

NextDNS parental control / denylist

Webpack !
It requires focus to details to debug.

What apps do you use to focus?

As I find myself distracted this morning on this very website...Do you have a favorite app that cuts out distracting websites, helps you stay on task, helps you avoid lots of task switching, etc?I use OSX, but really I'm curious what people find useful.

I made a CLI called nowify that might help:[0] https://taylor.town/nowify[1] https://github.com/surprisetalk/nowifyIt’s pretty janky, but it might give you some ideas :)

I am using Firefox extension "LeechBlock" . Free and very flexible. Also for better analysis, my laptop time spending using activity watch- https://www.proginosko.com/leechblock/- https://activitywatch.net/

I just made my own CLI that gives me a higher score if I don't switch apps in OSX. Kind of a different take on the problemhttps://github.com/softwaredoug/attend

My best focus app is Spotify and the same playlist I play everyday. Second best focus app is Apple Reminders, basically, when I have an urge to check something, I put it on a list and get back to the list once I have time in the evening.

“Freedom” is a good paid option on Android. I am not satisfied with their iOS support as it did not integrate well with Firefox mobile but the experience was good overall on desktop and Android

https://crushentropy.com/

https://getcoldturkey.com/

NextDNS parental control / denylist

Webpack !It requires focus to details to debug.

As I find myself distracted this morning on this very website...
Do you have a favorite app that cuts out distracting websites, helps you stay on task, helps you avoid lots of task switching, etc?
I use OSX, but really I'm curious what people find useful.

I made a CLI called nowify that might help:
[0] https://taylor.town/nowify
[1] https://github.com/surprisetalk/nowify
It’s pretty janky, but it might give you some ideas :)

I am using Firefox extension "LeechBlock" . Free and very flexible. Also for better analysis, my laptop time spending using activity watch
- https://www.proginosko.com/leechblock/
- https://activitywatch.net/

I just made my own CLI that gives me a higher score if I don't switch apps in OSX. Kind of a different take on the problem
https://github.com/softwaredoug/attend

Webpack !
It requires focus to details to debug.