The internet restriction apps that help improve productivity

We’ve all been there. Deadlines are looming, a project hasn’t even got off the ground and prospective clients are still just that, prospective. Yet, despite all these pressing issues, you can’t quite tear yourself away from Facebook, or Twitter, or Wikipedia.

There’s no denying the vital role the internet has played in expanding small businesses. From internet startups to crowdfunding a new product, the world online provides a wealth of opportunity for business development, but it can also present an unavoidable array of distractions. A survey earlier this year by motivational aid site Stop Procrastinating, showed that 36% of respondents lost an hour of productivity a day because they were checking social media and emails.

Short of moving your office into the wilderness or blocking internet access completely (something neither practical nor easy to accomplish in our connected world) it can be incredibly difficult to distance yourself from online distractions, which can have a huge impact on workplace productivity. So, how do you stop the temptation of browsing Buzzfeed articles or watching cat videos on YouTube when you should be working on a proposal? With more technology of course. In the war against online procrastination, people are turning to apps and software that block websites, or the internet completely.

One of the better known products is Freedom, a software program which takes users completely offline for up to eight hours. It’s the brainchild of Fred Stutzman who developed the app while conducting research for his PHD. Fred believes that changes in our working habits, including a move towards working remotely, have highlighted the challenges that come with our easy access to online content. “Everything you interact with online has a single incentive, and that’s to get more eyeballs on platforms to sell more advertising. It’s incentivised around making it hard for you to tear your eyeballs away.” He says that using Freedom, and its sister software Anti Social with which users can choose specific sites to block, needs to be self driven rather than imposed by an employer. “You do have to know what your distractions are and that’s problematic. We see the challenge as understanding when people are productive and when they’re not and helping them get back on track.”

Charlie Stigler, creator of restriction app SelfControl agrees that dealing with distractions must be driven by the individual. “The value of SelfControl isn’t really in blocking anything, it’s in strengthening the user’s inner ability to control their actions. I would discourage business owners, or others, from forcing it on their employees. An imposed block is just a technological barrier, which will always be dodged or defeated.”

So, do such apps actually work in practice? Finn Christo, international ecommerce manager for an online fashion company has installed StayFocusd on his Google Chrome browser to stop him accessing Facebook and social media sites while at work. “I need to keep mentally stimulated so I do browse a lot when I need a break, but I felt a little weird constantly going on Facebook,” he says. He’s not too sure if the app has improved his productivity, but it’s certainly put a stop to the temptation of accessing social media. “I’d rather I didn’t have to use it, but I’m the same about biting my nails and forgetting to recycle – bad habits!” Of course, he does admit that he can still access social media via his phone. “It’s only to respond to messages [but] it can be a slippery slope!”

Top five internet restriction apps

Freedom: Users can choose how long they want to be blocked completely from the internet, for up to eight hours. Cost: £6.40

Anti Social: You choose a selection of websites you know distract you and set a time for how long you want to be blocked from them. Cost: £11

SelfControl: Allows users to block a selection of websites for a set period of time. The app cannot be re-set once it’s been activated, even if you delete the application. Cost: Free

Cold Turkey: Blocks access to a selection of websites chosen by the user. Designed primarily for students as users can schedule websites to block at certain times, which can be repeated on a weekly basis. Cost: Free

TrackTime: This app doesn’t block internet access, but it shows you how you spend your time online so you’re better placed to know if you should only block certain sites or take yourself offline completely. Cost: £16

Sarah Murray is a production editor at Dennis Publishing

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