Distractions from mobile and desktop apps and websites can prevent you from achieving the high levels of productivity you need to study or complete your daily tasks. Fortunately, with modern technologies, there are various tools available if you want to maintain focus and improve productivity and education.Â
Distraction blockers generally refer to apps/software that you can install across your devices to block access to specific websites, promotions, ads, pop-ups, and notifications. Here’s an overview of popular paid and free website blockers available for players in the UK and worldwide.
GamStop – The Best Casino Self Exclusion
GamStop is a national self-exclusion program designed for UK players. Unlike the website blockers mentioned above, GamStop mainly focuses on online gambling websites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. If you wish to self-exclude from UK casinos sites and sportsbooks, you can register on GamStop, which offers terms between six months and five years.
As a GamStop player, you won’t be able to access UKGC licensed websites until your self-exclusion term expires, but you still have access to various casino sites not blocked by GamStop in and outside the United Kingdom. Other schemes like GamStop include SpelPaus (for Sweden gambling sites) and ROFUS (for Danish sites). Players can also use game blockers like Gamban, Gamblock, BetBlocker, and NetNanny.
Popular Website Blockers
There are several website blockers available for those looking to increase productivity. Some of the popular options include:
Freedom
As the name suggests, this solution gives you the freedom to focus on your studies, work, or other activities without distractions from online websites and installed apps/software. Freedom website blocker is available for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS devices, so you can install it across all gadgets you use to access the internet. Once installed, the app will prevent access to distracting websites, apps, or the internet. You can add unlimited devices, and the app comes with three modes (Locked Mode, Block All, and Block All Except). You can block specific websites, the entire internet, or everything except specific sites.
Pause
The Pause extension is designed to help you reflect on how you spend your time online and comes with a database of 50 top-distracting websites. Once you install Pause on your browser, it will freeze access to the top distracting websites for five seconds, displaying a green screen and gentle reminder instead. You can then decide to proceed to the distracting website or continue your work. Pause is free for the Chrome browser and is efficient for blocking various websites when looking to maintain high productivity. However, the tool allows users to proceed to the distracting site after 5 minutes.
StayFocused
This is another exciting tool you can use to block distractions from online websites. StayFocused is essentially an extension you can add to your Chrome browser and allows users to block specific websites for specified periods. It is free and pretty straightforward. However, StayFocused is limited to the Chrome browser. It is also impossible to set multiple blocks of time, so you have to specify when you want to block the website each time. However, you can add as many websites as you want, and unlike Freedom, the tool is free of charge.
WasteNoTime
This website blocker is an excellent option for anyone looking to boost productivity by limiting distractions from online sites. The tool is an extension for Safari and Chrome browsers and allows users to share settings across different devices. This means you can block the same sites on all your devices. In addition to blocking websites and setting time ranges, WasteNoTime also tracks the time spent on online distractions, allowing users to review and manage their productivity. Unfortunately, it is a free tool that’s easy to uninstall, and there are many ways around it.
Limit
The Limit extension is worth trying if you need something closer to Freedom but absolutely free. Like StayFocused, Limit is a browser extension you can install on a Chrome browser for free to block access to specific sites. You can add different websites to the database of blocked distractions or set different limits for different sites. For instance, you can block Facebook for an hour and another site for half a day, depending on your needs. Limit offers flexible schedules, so you can plan your day and eliminate distractions conveniently. However, you can uninstall the tool, meaning its efficiency depends on your commitment.
LeechBlock
This is another website blocker extension you can install to restrict access to specific websites. The add-on is available for the Mozilla Firefox browser and works more like StayFocused. LeechBlock has been around for a decade and comes with multiple configurations and an intuitive interface. The tool also features complex passwords that players must enter to proceed to distracting websites, which provides more time to determine if it is worth entertaining the distraction. Unfortunately, the many configurations make LeechBox ideal for tech-savvy users, and it is only available for the Firefox browser.
Conclusion
Website blockers can help you prevent distractions from the internet, which is vital when you want to focus on work or studying. Most website blockers are paid software, but you can find free tools, such as GamStop, and sign up there. However, GamStop only blocks UK gambling websites, so you’ll need to complement it with other solutions if you want to restrict all forms of online distractions. Make sure you understand how each system works and how it can help you before paying for a website blocker.
