How to prevent yourself from accessing blocked websites and apps

It’s useless to aim to block the internet (or parts of the internet) with Freedom if there is a way in which you can access blocked websites and apps.

That’s why the last section of this guide to overcoming internet distraction is about how to prevent yourself from breaking your own rules regarding your internet usage.

Tips to avoid visiting blocked websites and apps

Fortunately, Freedom has four features to prevent yourself from accessing blocked websites and apps during a running session. These are:

• Locked mode
• Disable quit during sessions
• Disable task manager during sessions
• Block system settings during sessions

Locked Mode

A way to access blocked websites is to edit your blocklists during a session.

Imagine that you are writing a novel and that you intend not to have access to the internet at all during your time for this purpose. To attain this goal, you block all the websites and the Outlook app. However, you remember you have to answer an email, so you unblock the internet (or just your email), and deviate from your plans.

If you have problems with this, it is convenient to disable the possibility of editing your blocklists during a session. Freedom calls this feature “Locked Mode”.

To be on Locked Mode, go to your Freedom account and tick the box for Locked Mode. It appears on the left under “Options”.

 

 

 

 

Disable quit during sessions

Another way to visit blocked websites during a session is to log out of Freedom.

To prevent yourself from logging out during a session, right-click on the Freedom icon in the taskbar. Then click on “options” and “Disable quit during sessions”.

Disable task manager during sessions

You could also be tempted to visit blocked websites by going to the Task Manager and logging out of Freedom manually.

A way to prevent this is by right-clicking on the Freedom icon on the taskbar and selecting “Disable Task Manager during sessions” within “Options”. This is for Windows.

The equivalent for Mac is clicking on “Disable Activity Monitor During Sessions”.

Block system settings during sessions

A last way to access blocked websites during a sessions is by uninstalling Freedom.

The way to avoid uninstalling Freedom during a session is by right-clicking again on the Freedom icon within the taskbar. Click “Options” and then click on “Block System Settings During Sessions”.

 

 

 

 

This setting will shut down the Control Panel every time you open it during a session and, therefore, prevents you from uninstalling Freedom during a session.

Before disabling features to prevent yourself from accessing blocked websites …

In this guide, I have recommended three general strategies to overcoming internet distraction:

• Maximize your time offline
• Whitelist a few websites and block the rest
• Minimize your time on distracting websites

The aim of explaining each of these strategies is that you can find inspiration to design your own system tailored to your needs.

I recommend you first design your own system. Second, you give it a try for one or two weeks making adjustments if needed. Once you have a system that works for you, it is time to decide whether disabling the features that potentially give you access to blocked websites is something for you.

A last word

I hope this guide is useful to you. I consider that overcoming internet distraction is fundamental to avoid overworking and becoming extremely productive over the long-term.

If you try the strategies recommended in this guide, please feel free to share your experience by commenting here.

If these strategies aren’t enough for you to overcoming internet distraction or you have a question, don’t hesitate to contact me (contact@adventureofsuccess.com). I’d be happy to help if I can.

 

Ángel V. Jiménez