🚫 Distraction Blocker - Focus & Productivity Tool
Generate visual warning overlays for distracting websites to improve focus and productivity
Your Distraction Blocker:
📋 Generated Bookmarklet Example
Drag this bookmarklet to your bookmarks bar for instant distraction blocking.
How to Use This Distraction Blocker - Focus & Productivity Tool
The Distraction Blocker tool helps you maintain focus by generating visual warning overlays for distracting websites. Follow these steps to set up your personalized blocking system:
- List Your Distractions: Enter the websites that commonly distract you (like social media, news sites, or entertainment platforms) in the text area. Include just the domain name without "www" or "http" - for example: "facebook.com" or "youtube.com".
- Choose Warning Style: Select an overlay style that resonates with you. Urgent styles work well for strong deterrent, while friendly styles provide gentle reminders. Professional styles are ideal for work environments.
- Customize Your Message: Write a personal reminder that will motivate you to stay focused. This could reference your current goals, deadlines, or simply remind you of your priorities.
- Configure Duration Options: Decide if you want time-based blocking options. Basic duration includes 15-minute to 1-hour blocks, while extended options provide longer focus sessions.
- Generate and Install: Click "Generate Blocker" to create your personalized bookmarklet code. Copy the generated JavaScript and save it as a bookmark in your browser, or download the code for use with browser extensions.
Once installed, simply click the bookmarklet when you want to activate focus mode. The visual overlay will appear whenever you visit blocked sites, giving you a moment to reconsider and redirect your attention back to productive activities.
How It Works
The Distraction Blocker creates a visual intervention system using browser bookmarklets and overlay technology:
- Domain Detection: The tool generates JavaScript code that monitors your current webpage URL and checks it against your list of distracting sites using pattern matching.
- Visual Overlay Creation: When a blocked site is detected, the code dynamically creates a full-screen overlay with your custom warning message, styled according to your preferences.
- Behavioral Interruption: The overlay interrupts automatic browsing patterns by requiring conscious interaction (clicking "Continue" or "Go Back") rather than allowing seamless access to distracting content.
- Progressive Delay System: If you choose to continue, there's a configurable delay period (default 10 seconds) that provides time for reflection and often results in users choosing to go back instead.
- Focus Progress Tracking: The system uses browser local storage to track focus time, blocked attempts, and successful redirections, providing motivation through visible progress metrics.
- Bookmarklet Distribution: The generated code is packaged as a bookmarklet (bookmark with JavaScript) that you can activate manually when you want to enable focus mode, giving you control over when blocking is active.
This approach provides effective distraction management without requiring browser extensions, admin permissions, or permanent changes to your browsing experience. The system works through conscious activation and behavioral psychology rather than technical enforcement.
When You Might Need This
- • Students avoiding social media during study sessions and exam preparation
- • Remote workers blocking news sites and entertainment platforms during work hours
- • Writers and content creators preventing distractions while working on projects
- • Developers staying focused during coding sessions by blocking forums and social sites
- • Freelancers improving billable hour productivity by eliminating time-wasting websites
- • Researchers avoiding rabbit holes on Wikipedia and social platforms during deep work
- • Entrepreneurs blocking distracting sites during important business planning sessions
- • Parents setting good digital habits by modeling focused work behavior
- • Anyone trying to break social media addiction with gentle visual reminders
- • Professionals preparing for presentations without getting sidetracked by notifications
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the distraction blocker actually work?
The tool generates JavaScript code (bookmarklet) that you save in your browser. When activated, it checks if you're visiting a blocked site and displays a visual warning overlay. It's a gentle reminder system rather than hard blocking - you can still access sites after a brief delay. The overlay appears over the page content to make you pause and consider if you really want to continue to that distracting site.
Can I bypass the blocker if I really need to access a site?
Yes, the blocker includes a 'Continue Anyway' option with a customizable delay (default 10 seconds). This gives you time to reconsider while still allowing access when genuinely needed. The delay helps break automatic browsing habits by making you consciously choose to visit the distracting site. You can also temporarily disable the bookmarklet by removing it from your bookmarks.
Will this tool block websites permanently or slow down my browser?
No, this is a lightweight visual overlay system that doesn't permanently block anything or affect browser performance. It only activates when you manually click the bookmarklet and visit a blocked site. The overlay is pure CSS/JavaScript with no background processes running. You maintain full control - simply delete the bookmarklet to remove all blocking functionality instantly.
What's the difference between the warning styles?
Each style uses different colors and messaging: Urgent (red) creates strong deterrent with warning language, Friendly (blue) uses gentle reminders, Motivational (green) focuses on goal achievement, Minimal (gray) provides subtle notifications, and Professional (corporate colors) works well in office environments. The style affects both visual impact and message tone to match your preference and situation.
Can I track how much time I save or my focus progress?
Yes, when enabled, the tool tracks your focus sessions using browser local storage. It shows how long you've stayed focused, counts blocked attempts, and displays progress in the overlay. This data stays private on your device and helps motivate continued focus. The tracking resets daily and provides insights into your most distracting sites and peak focus times throughout the day.