What is Reddit's opinion of StayFocusd?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

This one here is called StayFocusd (sic). You load sites into its banlist, set a time limit for yourself, and you can allocate the time between all of the sites. Once you hit a cumulative, say, 30 minutes, they are all blocked.

You'll soon be so angry at getting them blocked that within two days, you'll be wanting to uninstall the extension. But that's cheating. Then, you learn that they base it off of your system time. So once your 30 minutes is up, you set your time to 3 months in the future, and you have fresh 30 minutes!

This tactic makes you somehow feel like you're accomplishing something, but not uninstalling, "because that would be cheating."

Then, you uninstall it because you'll never leave reddit.

Yeah I gave up making bookmarks and just put articles I want to read into Evernote or readitlater to read on my phone/kindle.

Try only having 2 tabs open at once. Every tab you have open requires a placeholder in your working memory (or it doesn't and you forget about the tab). Maybe 3 tabs.

I noticed I have become addicted to consuming information. NEW IS BETTER. MUST READ NEW STUFF. So I have .PDFs and articles saved on ADHD which I have never read. One of these weeks I am going to block web-browsing and sift through everything I have collected.

As is mentioned in every thread like this you can use leechblock on Firefox or stayfocusd in chrome to give you a certain amount of time for various sites. I put limits on my news, sports, gossip, and reddit. After 90 minutes I have to open a new browser if I want to continue...but that makes it a conscious decision and not just a automatic habit.

It seems kind of duh, but GO TO CLASS. Don't skip because you think the class is easy or that you'll be fine just writing papers or taking exams or learning direct from the book. And when you're there, PAY ATTENTION AND TAKE NOTES. If you find yourself on the internet for anything other than looking up info on wikipedia or something to clarify/solidify what the professor said, or if you're doodling in your margins, you are not paying attention.

My biggest procrastination issue was obviously internet dawdling, and the tool that helped me most in the last year was the Chrome extension Stayfocusd, which allows you to allot time to yourself on time-wasting sites which you can define yourself (I gave myself 2 hours between facebook, twitter, reddit, flash games, etc.). It also has a feature allowing you to shut the internet off entirely, excluding some green-listed sites you define yourself (I kept google, wikipedia, and a few others), which really helped me when I needed to buckle down and write things. It's relatively easy to disable, but I found that having the ticking clock going on in the background actually forced me to consider how I spent my internet time and eventually led to me minimizing it and not meeting the 2hr limit every day.

For those of you wondering how to do this:

Go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc and edit the hosts file with Notepad or Notepad ++

Anywhere under the typical example 127.0.0.1 localhost add the sites that you would like to block in the following way

127.0.0.1 www.reddit.com

and so on. Save, make sure it is not saved as a .txt file. Move the drop down to All Files and save and you're good to go. If you're using Windows Vista or 7 you will need to do this with admin privileges.

Or to make it simple, if you're using Firefox use Leechblock, if you're using Chrome use StayFocusd, If you're using Safari or Opera I'm not sure. And if you're using IE you're a filthy person.

There's no reason to quit when browser extensions like StayFocusd will moderate your time on websites like Reddit for you.

If you're using Chrome, install StayFocusd.

Another option is to edit your hosts file and add the following line:

www.lereddit.com www.reddit.com

then reboot.

The final option is simply to browse the new queue in /r/funny until you swear off the internet forever and seal yourself in a dark cave in a futile effort to shelter yourself from the horrors you've seen.

You can use extensions on your browser to make it so that you can only view Facebook for up to 10 minutes a day, or something similar to your liking.

Here's one for Chrome.

Stay focused if you have chrome, or Self Control if you use safari.

EDIT: i just saved your life

Here ya go by the way, the take away message isn't "cheat on her" it's "yeah, everyone wants to fuck a lot of things it's only natural". The reason you shouldn't cheat is what you said above. You don't feel romantically towards her and you don't want to date her. No reason to lose something nice over something that's nice for 30 minutes.

Also, go to sleep. This helps me <em>a lot</em>, I set my computer to shut off at 2 AM every night. It doesn't ask me, it just does it. I am simply unable to tear myself from the computer so I need an outside force to get me away from the computer. I use this to keep me off reddit as well. I budget 2 hours a day to reddit and that's it. Helped me immensely.

Oh yeah and I've had similar spontaneous emotional insomnia except mine was more of the "lie in bed thinking intensely until the wee hours of the morning" variety. It'll pass. It's not some deep seated emotional problem you are facing (so I assume from your post), it's a totally temporary thing that you simply need to wait out the storm. It'll get better. Just give it time. Maybe follow my advice above, it could help.

Best of luck. Let me know if I can help out any other way; if you need someone to chat with shoot me a PM, I'm a good listener.

If you're like me you'll find that you have absolutely no self control when it comes to extremely time wasting sites like Reddit. I find that the majority of my procrastination comes from killing time on the web.

As a Chrome user, I've installed Stay Focusd which limits the amount of time I can spend on distracting sites, like Youtube, Facebook... etc. You can set your settings to specifically block websites and conform your study/productivity sessions to your schedule. You can even set it to require you to answer a skill testing question to discourage you from simply reverting your settings.

If you use Firefox, try Leechblock, its basically the same program.

If you use IE though, well then... fuck you.

I need a internet connection for school work so completely blocking it is not an option for me.

Another solution is getting an addon for your browser that blocks specific sites: I use Leechblock for firefox, it gives you the option to block a specific set of sites under specific timeframes. It can block webpages or delay the displaying of them. By the time the page has loaded i usually realise that i have to get back to work.

Example: I have a set of blocks that block reddit and siilar sites from 0800-1700 (school ) and from 2300-0800 ( need to sleep) during weekdays.

There are similar addons for chrome : Stayfocusd : https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji?hl=en Nanny for google Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/cljcgchbnolheggdgaeclffeagnnmhno

DON'T DO IT! DO THIS INSTEAD...

phew

Found it! It's called Stay Focused

I think that this link will work https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji

otherwise, just search the web app store for 'Stay Focused'

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji

You may find this useful. It has a 'nuclear modus', with the possibility of blocking every site but a few 'allowed sites'. With some creativity, you can only have a few minutes for Reddit each day, forcing you to only use Reddit for stuff like this. It has a lot of settings.

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.

If you're on Chrome, StayFocusd is a great extension to block your favorite sites for temporary amounts of time so you can finish your work. Also I agree with the music thing, I like listening to techno and dubstep and basically anything electronic especially if it has an upbeat tempo because for me it's like workout music, it motivates me to work harder.

First, I highly recommend that you find some other activity to spend time that would otherwise be spent on 4chan. It's very, very easy to go back there when you're bored, feeling crappy, and don't know what to do with yourself. Ideally, you should pick up a new hobby that will keep you off the internet. At the very least, you should find another website or online community to participate in.

Next, get a plugin or program that blocks certain websites. There was a recent thread full of excellent suggestions in [/r/writing](/r/writing) about internet blocking programs. Thanks to that thread, I ended up switching to the Chrome plugin StayFocusd, which has helped me cut down on my Reddit time significantly. It lets you set a limit on how much time you want to spend on a website each day before blocking it entirely. In my case, it's a more realistic solution than quitting cold turkey.

I've been working on the same issue. I just decided recently to try to do things for at least half an hour at a time without doing anything else. If I'm going to read a book, check up on the news, play guitar, anything. It amazed me how quickly i would switch tasks. Half an hour doesn't seem like very long, and it shouldn't be, but I noticed that every two to three minutes while doing research online, I would open a new tab, check my e-mail, find music, I just start doing other things without realizing it. This helped me out. Also, sunflower seeds really help me stay focused.

To those suggesting various medication, I imagine that's not the response the OP's looking for. They want to learn how to concentrate on their work.

Here are my own tips, they may work for you, they may not:

• Listen to music, but don't listen to anything with lyrics. Classical music often works for me, but only if it's fairly slow. Otherwise, light ambient music works very well, things like Boards of Canada, C418, Freshcut, etc.
• Remove any obvious shortcuts which will only distract you. For me, it's removing the likes of Firefox, Steam and chat clients from my task bar. You can still go to use the likes of web browsers through the start menu, but I've found with the extra searching it takes to do that, you won't suddenly click it out of muscle memory and find yourself still browsing 5 minutes later.
• StayFocusd - This is something I've found recently and not really used a whole lot yet, but imagine I will do once the work starts rolling in later this year. Great for blocking off certain sites for a certain amount of time, or only allowing them for say, 10 minutes.

StayFocusd is an extension for Chrome that limits how much time you can spend on certain websites of your choosing. I'm sure there are similar programs for firefox. If you're using internet explorer, stop that. I found that this helped me a ton. I limited my facebook/reddit usage to 10 minutes/day from easily over an hour. I realize that I have nothing random to do on the internet, so I just do work.

Outside of that, I have found google calendar (or any calendar) to be helpful. By specifically stating what I have to do when (analysis problem set from 4-5, econ from 5-6, etc.) it is easier for me to dedicate that time.

If you use Chrome you can use StayFocused. I used it for awhile but realized I have nothing to do when I am not on Reddit. Haahahahahahahahasdlfjds;klajadslj.

I remember reading about extensions you can get for chrome which allow you to block sites for a set amount of time. Also their is a site where if you stop writing for a certain amount of time it starts deleting it.

Googling now.

Edit: Stay Focused, The Google extension

Write or Die

Lazarus: Form Recovery and Stayfocusd

Trust me, you won't regret either.

I agree, don't give yourself excuses for not studying, and take short(but frequent) breaks. Take these breaks going out of your room to take a snack, fresh air etc.

If you are using chrome check this out.

Also don't be afraid(or skeptical) to use khanacademy or youtube for that matter. If you are stuck on a topic, or your teacher has a weird way of explaining figure it out yourself.

And by the way Balloons_lol, there is nothing wrong with you, all students struggle with this at one time or another. Good luck!

Do you happen to know of any Chrome extensions that can do the same?

Edit: Found it: Nanny for Chrome.

Edit²: Similar and more popular: StayFocusd.

If you're using chrome, (which you should be using) there's an add in called "Stay focsd" that limits websites on your computer.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji

One of mine was wasting time on the internet and not in videogames, i know, both are a "waste" of time, but atleast on videogames i play like 1 or 2 hours and im done, so i used this little Chrome app, and its awesome https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji

What browser do you use? On Firefox there's Leechblock and apparently StayFocusd does the same thing on Chrome.

I downloaded stayfocusd to limit myself to 30 minutes of reddit a day. It's really only the first 30 minutes that are that good anyway.

You could use Leech Block for Firefox or Stay Focusd for Google Chrome will help you by blocking sites after X minutes.

If you have a Mac, use SelfControl. If you don't, the PC equivalents are: StayFocusd for Google Chrome (typo intended) and Leechblock for Firefox. I'm not sure for other web browsers. They limit how long you are allowed to be on certain websites per day. You can edit it to which days are active and how long you're allowed. Once you use up your allotted time, you are kicked off the site and not allowed on it until the next day, even if you edit it. You can even do nuclear mode that restricts you to specific websites you've allowed yourself. I've limited myself to 20 min a day for reddit, facebook, stumbleupon, and other various time consuming websites. It has worked wonders for me and I've been a much more productive college student.

Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji

Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/leechblock/

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji

It's an add-on for Chrome that blocks websites (either that you choose, everything or everything other than what you choose) while you work. It's brilliant if procrastination is your issue.

Listening to music works too, but make it something without lyrics to distract you. Classical, post-rock, whatever.

Here's what I do. I create another user account on my operating system and then proceed to do the following things: 1. Hide my desktop, put all programs except chrome and word out of site. 2. Use this addon to block sites like gasp reddit and facebook. Only allow Google, your research websites, and possibly Pandora to listen to music. 3. Get shit done. Good luck with your paper!

As you say, you'll find a way to distract yourself no matter what. But here are a few things you could try if you haven't already:

• Turn off your wifi.
• Install StayFocusd for Chrome (or something similar for another browser); it limits your max amount of time on timesink websites.
• You say you can only focus for about fifteen minutes. So start by allotting fifteen to twenty minutes of work time and then take a five-minute break. Work for another twenty minutes and take another five-minute break. You might get more done that way, and goofing off is way more enjoyable when you feel like you've earned it. The trick, of course, is to not let those five-minute breaks became two-hour breaks.
• And seriously, if you have to, deactivate your Facebook, delete your reddit account, lawyer up, hit the gym (well, maybe not those last two).

But do start small and work up from there. Don't tell yourself you'll be productive for the next five hours, because that never works. And by the way, I'm on reddit avoiding schoolwork myself. Oh, the irony.

I always loved stayfocusd which lets you allot a total combined amount of time on a set of sites per day. You can also shut down the entire internet except greenlisted ones.

Alternatively, erasing the lines doesn't always (70% of the time) set everything back to normal for some reason. I spent two weeks without Reddit like this. There is a solution to it of course, but don't do it.

Also, get this: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji

To block all your favourite sites. And also if you have time:

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2010/10/11/101011crbo_books_surowiecki

As you can see I've struggled with ADD driven procrastination which occurs from time to time :) Good luck OP

StayFocusd: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji

I tried it and it didnt work. I quickly became frustrated and disabled it. You're not that stupid, it's pretty hard to fool yourself.

Talk to him about it and ask him if you can install LeechBlock or StayFocused. I'm using StayFocused and it's helping me keep down the amount of time I'm on here when I should be doing something else.

StayFocusd (Chrome) or LeechBlock (Firefox) let you regulate time spent on a given list of websites. I haven't used LeechBlock, but StayFocusd can be easily bypassed by opening an incognito window--which is a huge bummer for me. You have to use it as an, "Oh, right, time to get off this website" reminder, not an outright prohibitor.

If you run Linux (or Mac OS X, I think) you can also play games with your /etc/hosts file to completely block certain sites. (But this can also be easily bypassed by just re-editing it...sigh.) I'm not sure what the procedure is for Windows.

Finally, if you have a non-crap router, you can go to its config page, and it should have some sort of setting to block certain websites.

If you use firefox, you can install leechblock to block access to reddit during the work day. Chrome has Stayfocusd which isn't as good.

Man I used to be you about 1-2 years ago. From someone who has experienced too much of this, the first thing I would tell you to do is STOP THINKING. The more you sit there and think about what how you're not good enough and and how times running out, the worse it gets in your head.

One really good way to start is to just take out a piece of paper, put your name on it and start that essay or whatever you've been putting off. Don't even consider for a second what you plan to write. After a while you'll realize that "Hey, I'm actually doing this!" Then you can try to fix up whatever you think is wrong and such. Basically what I'm trying to say is that just starting is half the job.

Use the pomodoro technique! Work for only 25 minutes and take a 5 minute break where you do nothing but relax. Then do another 25. It gets work done so much faster when you know you don't have to sit there for 2 fucking hours straight.

As for browsing reddit among other distractions, get an extension for your browser like StayFocusd for chrome. It gives you only a certain amount of time on specific websites per day and you can even shut off the internet for a chosen amount of hours.

I know this is long but one more thing I wanted to add was to USE YOUR WEEKENDS! You'd be surprised at how much easier things are when you're prepared for the week. Good luck, and don't worry, you can make the switch (:

A lot of people are saying they want to procrastinate less. This Chrome add-on blocks Facebook, Reddit, Youtube, etc for a set time. Works for me.

I've been using StayFocusd to control my internet surfing... you can make it force you to type out a passage about procrastination in order to change settings.

If you spend too much time on reddit, facebook or whatever, try this (for Chrome):

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji

You can block those sites after, say, 10 minutes of browsing them. Reminds you about that stuff you have to do.

If you use the internet too much, you can place small obstacles reminding you to not overuse the internet.

Chrome users can use Stay Focused and Firefox users can use Leechblock.

The best feature of Stay Focused is the 'nuclear option' where you can block all websites, your blocklist, or everything except your allowed list for a period of time, making you unable to disable the extension through the settings menu. With the nuclear option, you can prevent yourself from using certain websites on Chrome for hours.

I recommend hiding Leechblock from your add-ons manager in Firefox (the add-on has an option, I think it's in the general tab); you'll have to go the extra step to search through your add-ons for leechblock. I also recommend blocking block them during time you should spend sleeping or working.

Both should be set to reset at 12 AM, not 12 PM, so you don't unconsciously make the decision to adjust your hours awake so you'll be up when the time resets.

If you're really motivated to use the internet you can bypass or change these add ons, but if you keep them enabled you'll have to make a conscious decision about your computer use.

Found it! It's called Stay Focused

I think that this link will work https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji

otherwise, just search the web app store for 'Stay Focused'

I don't use them but there are Google Chrome extensions like this one which state to: "increase your productivity by limiting the amount of time that you can spend on time-wasting websites."

Hi there, stayfocusd is what you're looking for. It is a really easy to use chrome extension. It is also easy to bypass (e.g. using another browser). However, it serves my purpose beautifully. It allows you XX minutes of "time wasting" per day, can block all of them instantly for a fixed period of time, and you can block a new website with a single click.

Alternatively, a more powerful program is cold turkey. It also blocks websites for a fixed amount of time, and works for all browsers, and is way harder to bypass. Give it a try, it's free!

Yeah, that one main video said something about how having novelty at just a click away is just like having a woman at just a click/jerk away.

I recommend StayFocusd, the chrome extension. I blocked any website with "Funny" and stuff like that in the url, really helpful.

Which browser do you typically use? If you use IE, I would get either Firefox or Chrome for this.

Chrome: Web Time Tracker

Chrome: StayFocused, a productivity extension

Firefox: Mind the Time

Good luck!

Well, Self Control is only for Macs. But you are right, it's free.

If you have a PC, check out Stay Focused (it's a chrome app) or Anti-Social, which costs money, but it does have a free trial which could work for finals time.

On Chrome:StayFocusd; On OS X:Concentrate

The problem with these is that it's too easy to disable them. I found they give me a false sense of control, so I dropped them. I'd rather address the source of my procrastination/akrasia than rely on software. YMMV.

1) Delete this thread. You know you have to. Otherwise you'll be compulsively checking it.

2) get a number of hobbies and friends that require you to spend time away from the computer. Win.

3) Use the most diabolical invention ever created, the Stayfocused extension for google chrome. Compulsive behavior is about fluctuating in and out of "better moments" when you are aware of and actively refraining from behaviors that make you feel out of control. Sure we all reddit, and internet, but for pete's sake we have lives too. When you have the self discipline in your better moments, set some time limits on how much time you can waste on certain sites. When the time limits expire, your browser will block you from visiting them for the rest of the day. It's terrible, and effective.

I use Google Chrome with the StayFocused extension at work.

It keeps the internet for me, which I need for work, but I can add sites to my list that I want to keep away from. It also does referred links. So if I go to reddit, then click a YouTube link... that YouTube page is now part of the countdown.

From my experience, it is baby steps that put you on a good schedule.

My depression actually came from a month and a half of insonmia, so my first real step was getting sleep on a good schedule. Your body needs between 7-9 hours of sleep. Start going to bed at the same time as much as you can. A secret my doctor told me was that if you go to bed within an hour of same time every night, and then eat breakfast at the same time for 2 weeks, your body will naturally wake up at the same time. (I really didnt believe it, but I have been waking up at the same time for a month with no alarm clock.)

Schedules that stick are schedules that you build up slowly and then treat them somewhat religiously. I have been making some "SMART" goals, atleast give this page a read and try to set a goal for yourself with a time frame of one week. http://topachievement.com/smart.html I really think its the little things that count. I keep track of my schedule by planning out my days before they start, using Google calendar and printing it out, and checking everything off.

One of the things that I discovered depressed me was facebook and reading reddit for long periods of time. So i have limited myself to 20 minutes of reddit and facebook per day using this addon. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji The time that I would have spent reading facebook/reddit I spend reading literature, I find it to be more uplifting and relaxing.

Do not get me wrong, recovery is difficult, but when you do have a bit of energy, try to do something with it, it can really get the ball rolling for you.

If you want some help with making a schedule PM me and I can try to help you get started.

Yes. Here is an extension called StayFocusd: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji

There is a Firefox one as well.

Add some sites to the list, and set the timer. It will only allow you to visit those sites for an accumulated amount of time each day.

I let it stay on the default 10 minutes per day to allocate between Reddit, Facebook, YouTube, Cracked, and a few others. I felt, "Hell. I truly do not need more than 10 minutes of Facebook and reddit a day. I really don't."

I made it about a week until I uninstalled that fucking pest of an extension.

You could use Leech Block for Firefox or Stay Focusd for Google Chrome will help you by blocking sites after X minutes.

Hell no you're not. It's human nature. It takes a sustained, consistent effort to really change. It is hard but you can do it if you really want. You could start by limiting (but not entirely eliminating) your time on Reddit, either through willpower or a program like this.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji This is a nice one if you've got chrome, but you can easily...

you know what, I won't even tell you. I wish I hadn't found out how to turn it off. I might still be using it if that were the case. Good luck!

for mac users: self control - this shit is powerful. block urls at the root system level for a specified amount of time, and there's no way to undo it. Or if there is, it's way more trouble than it's worth. Sadly, this is the only thing that will actually keep me off of reddit.

StayFocused add on for Chrome. Easy to disable, but still good.

If you're using chrome, StayFocused is your best friend.

Here are some motivational/"Get things done" wallpapers that might help you organize your thoughts or ideas a bit better, or just give you a push to start working.

I stumbled across Chains.cc in this very subreddit a while back, and I think it's an excellent website for daily tasks that you wish to implement as part of your daily routines. You can exclude specific days of the week from a chain, so you could also use it for weekly stuff by excluding all but one day of the week, for example.

As far as browser extensions go, I've heard good things about Stayfocusd, but unfortunately it seems to be Chrome-only. I'm sure there are similar ones for every browser, though.

I've used two: LeechBlock for Firefox and StayFocusd for Chrome. Also look into your router software -- some (like Tomato) can have time based restrictions.

Is there a version for Chrome?

Edit: Found one! Stay Focused has a ''Nuclear'' option allowing you to block everything for certain hours, and leave some sites active if you wish.

had the same problem, i used these

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji

or just google stayfocused, it allowed you to put limits on what you browse. I would be using it at work however, I found I can sandbox firefox...but for a glorious few days I got a lot done.