.arunim.fyiA description of my defense-in-depth approach to site-blocking, aka a list things that keep me more productive than I otherwise would be.
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Browser extensions:
LeechBlock: I use this to fully block a large number of websites (games, content, social media, workarounds) and time-limit others (prediction markets, linkedin, typing practice sites)
Clearspace: I use this to block some sites, mostly social media, such that I’m prompted to breathe and pause before bypassing any other restrictions. I also use this to feedblock most social media on my laptop (i.e. hiding all feeds, recommendations, etc.)
Redirector: as the name might suggest, I use this to redirect bad URLs to random wikipedia articles or more specific URLs
uBlock Origin: I use the option it has to block YouTube, I think, but can’t tell whether it works, given all the other layers blocking the site.
Arc boosts:
see the list here
Used to feedblock most sites, remove comments, hide unnecessary features, etc.. Also used to e.g. block Gmail outside of pre-determined times.
Apple Screen Time
Settings → Focus
- Do Not Disturb Focus, which activates an iMessage Filter (hides all non-pinned messages in the app when the focus is activated)
Settings → Screen Time
- Password set by a friend, such that I don’t know it.
- Shared across all devices.
- → Downtime
- No app access after 10:30pm except for “Always Allowed” below
- → App Limits
- Social media, browsers (which would let me bypass site blocking) etc., including apps that I’ve since deleted
- Double / triple check that these require passwords to unblock, common error!
- → Always Allowed
- Phone, Messages, FaceTime
- ClearSpace
- Google Maps, Uber
- Logseq, Sophos (my spaced repetition app)
- Spotify
- → Communication Limits
- During Downtime: No one besides my parents. There is in fact no one depending on me late at night such that it can not wait until the next morning.
- → Content & Privacy
- Restrictions enabled
- → App Store, Media, Web → Web Content:
- Limit Adult Websites + Blocklist of ~100 sites
Laptop:
/etc/hosts file which blocklists ~100 sites
Time tracker script
Morale tracker script
crontab script with 30-min check-ins
System Settings → Control Center → Announce the time
Apple Screen Time, see above
Phone:
Apple Screen Time, see above
Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Color Filters: Grayscale
Empty home screen
Shutdown shortcut
Automations which toggle Do Not Disturb automatically every 3 hours