The Plan Type determines how blocking is enforced. You choose a plan type in Step 1 of the Plan Wizard.
Block
The simplest and strictest option. While the plan is active, all targets are completely inaccessible. No time budget, no exceptions — just solid blocking.
Best for:
- Deep work sessions where you need zero distractions
- Blocking sites/apps you never want to access during certain hours
- Parental controls
How it works:
- Plan activates → all targets blocked immediately
- Targets remain blocked until the plan stops or the schedule ends
- No time tracking — it’s all or nothing
Time Limit
Gives you a budget of allowed time with your targets. Once the budget runs out, targets are blocked for the rest of the period.
Configuration options:
| Setting | Description | Example |
|---|
| Time allowed | How much time you get | 30 minutes |
| Per period | How often the budget resets | Per hour, per day, per week, or per month |
- 30 minutes of social media per day
- 15 minutes of YouTube per hour
- 4 hours of gaming per week
Best for:
- Reducing screen time without eliminating it entirely
- Building awareness of how much time you actually spend
- Gradual habit change
How it works:
- Plan activates → targets are accessible, timer starts counting
- You use your budgeted time → timer counts down
- Budget runs out → targets are blocked for the rest of the period
- Period resets (e.g., next day) → budget refills
The Time Limit rule tracks actual usage time, not clock time. If your plan allows 30 minutes of Reddit per day, you get exactly 30 minutes of active Reddit browsing — time spent on other sites doesn’t count.
Session Limit
Restricts how many times you can open a target app or website per day. Each time you open it counts as one session, and each session has a fixed duration. When the session ends, a mandatory break starts before you can open it again. Once all sessions are used up, the target is blocked for the rest of the day.
Configuration options:
| Setting | Description | Example |
|---|
| Sessions per day | Maximum number of sessions allowed. Set to 0 for unlimited. | 5 |
| Session duration | How long each session lasts before the target is blocked | 15 minutes |
| Inactivity timeout | Auto-ends a session early if you stop using the target | 5 minutes |
| Break time | Mandatory wait before the next session can start | 30 minutes |
- Open the target → session timer starts
- Session ends after the configured duration
- Mandatory break begins — target is blocked
- Break ends → next session available (if any remain)
- All sessions used → blocked until the next day
Why it works:
Session Limits change your relationship with distracting apps. Because you have a limited number of sessions, you naturally delay opening the app until you genuinely need it — you don’t want to waste a session on a quick impulse check. This transforms compulsive, mindless checking into deliberate, intentional use.
The mandatory break between sessions also prevents the “just one more minute” trap. Even if you want to keep scrolling, the break forces a gap that breaks the cycle.
Best for: Apps you need access to but check too often (email, social media, messaging). Unlike a Time Limit which lets you drain the entire budget in one sitting, Session Limits spread your usage across the day with built-in recovery gaps.
Screen Breaks
Forces you to step away from your computer at regular intervals. Unlike the other plan types, Screen Breaks always apply to the entire computer — not specific apps or websites.
Configuration options:
| Setting | Description | Example |
|---|
| Work duration | How long you work before a break is enforced | 45 minutes |
| Break duration | How long the break lasts | 5 minutes |
- Preventing eye strain (20-20-20 rule)
- Avoiding repetitive strain injuries
- Maintaining energy throughout the day
- Enforcing movement breaks for desk workers
How it works:
- Plan activates → work timer starts
- Work duration ends → screen locks, break timer starts
- Break ends → screen unlocks, work timer restarts
- Cycle repeats until the plan stops or schedule ends
During a screen break, your computer is temporarily locked. Your work is not affected — all applications continue running in the background. When the break ends, everything is exactly as you left it.
Choosing the Right Plan Type
| I want to… | Use |
|---|
| Completely block distractions during work | Block |
| Allow some distraction time but cap it | Time Limit |
| Reduce compulsive app-checking | Session Limit |
| Take regular breaks from the screen | Screen Breaks |
- A Time Limit plan for social media (30 min/day)
- A Screen Breaks plan for eye health (break every 45 min)
- A Block plan for gaming (blocked entirely Mon-Fri)
