The Tools That Actually Helped Me Focus

Last year, I wrote about using app limits to manage my social media time (Balancing Social Media and Productivity: Setting App Limits on Your Phone). It seemed like a simple, built-in solution to stop the endless scrolling and at first, it worked. I became more aware of my time on social media, and the reminders helped me make more intentional choices.

But then, I started hitting ‘one more minute’… then ‘15 more minutes’… then ‘ignore for the rest of the day.’ Before I knew it, I was back to scrolling as much as ever. I realised I needed something that wasn’t so easy to bypass.

The biggest issue with phone based app limits is that they rely on willpower. When faced with a prompt to extend my screen time, it was too easy to justify giving myself more time. After all, I use social media for my business, so of course, I needed a few extra minutes, right? But those extra minutes quickly added up, and my productivity suffered.

I later discovered Opal, thanks to one of the ladies in my accountability group. After trying a few different approaches, this has been the most effective for me. The free version (after the trial) is enough to make a difference. Opal blocks access for certain apps for defined periods of time.

Opal lets you take a break, but not without a little effort, and capped at 15 minutes. No endless scrolling!

Once I had my phone under control, I noticed something else: I was sneaking in a little bit of social media use on my computer. While it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as before, I still found myself getting distracted more than I wanted.

Self Control blocks distracting sites for a set time on your Mac with no overrides.

Recently I discovered Self Control for Mac. This app lets you list sites you want to block and set a timer for how long they should be inaccessible on your computer. Once the block is set, there’s no way to turn it off until the timer runs out. Even restarting your computer won’t override it.

Self Control says NO to my social media distractions!!

For Windows users, I’ve heard about Self Focusd, which works similarly, though I haven’t personally tested it.

By using Opal on my phone and Self Control on my Mac, I’ve found a system that actually helps me cut back on distractions. These tools make it much harder to get lost in social media, allowing me to focus on creative work and get more done.

If you’ve struggled with setting limits like I did, I highly recommend trying these apps. Finding the right tools can really help you focus and make all the difference in reclaiming your time.

Here’s to being more productive!

Disclaimer: I'm sharing these apps based on my personal experience and what has worked for me. I am not affiliated with Opal or Self Control, and this post is not sponsored. I encourage you to research and choose the tools that best fit your individual needs.