I kept bypassing my website blocker, so I built one that forces me to do math first.
Hi everyone,
Like many of you, I have a habit of opening a new tab and mindlessly typing "youtube.com" or "twitter.com" without even thinking about it.
I tried standard website blockers, but I always ran into the same issue: the moment I hit a block screen, my brain would just automatically click "Disable blocker" or remove the site from my list. There was no real barrier, so my habit loop kept winning.
I realized that to break a subconscious habit, you need to introduce **active cognitive friction**—something that forces your logical brain (prefrontal cortex) to turn on and override the impulse to scroll.
So, I built **FocusGate**, a Chrome extension that acts as a mindful barrier.
**How it works:**
You add your custom distracting sites to the block list.
When you visit a blocked site, instead of a simple block screen, you are met with a **dynamic math equation**.
To unlock the site, you have to solve the equation. This 10-second mental task breaks the automated dopamine loop.
Once solved, the site unlocks temporarily (e.g. 10 minutes) before automatically locking again.
**Privacy-First:**
I hate how many modern extensions track browser history. FocusGate is built local-first. It has **no external servers, no tracking, and no databases**. Everything runs 100% inside your own client browser storage.
It's completely free to use (with a small lifetime license option if you want to block unlimited sites).
I currently have it live on the Chrome Web Store and would love to get your feedback on it:
**Chrome Store Link:** https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/gdbaklfmgljkiknceicblkkfnediapei
What features should I add next to make it even more helpful for your focus sessions? Let me know!