The 20s Rule

Create a brief pause between an impulse and an action, helping you build better browsing habits.

The 20s Rule is a powerful tool designed to help you overcome unintentional browsing and digital distractions by reshaping your online environment. Instead of relying on finite willpower, it applies a proven psychological principle to help you build lasting focus and intention, right where you need it most—your browser. This extension gives you the power to consciously decide how you spend your time online, transforming moments of distraction into opportunities for growth and focus. HOW IT WORKS The extension is based on the "20-Second Rule" from behavioral science, which states that adding a small amount of friction to a bad habit makes you significantly less likely to perform it. We apply this principle with three simple steps: - Add Friction: You tell the extension which websites you tend to visit out of habit (e.g., social media, news sites, video platforms). - Interrupt Autopilot: When you navigate to one of these sites, the extension introduces a gentle, non-disruptive 20-second pause. This brief moment is just enough to break the subconscious impulse. - Reclaim Your Choice: During the pause, you are given the space to make a conscious choice. You can either proceed to the site with intention or, more often than not, you’ll realize you’d rather close the tab and return to your work. KEY FEATURES - The Intentional Pause: A fully customizable timer that creates a buffer between you and your distractions. - Helpful Nudges: The pause screen isn't empty. It displays positive micro-habits ("nudges") that you can perform in the moment to improve your physical and mental well-being, such as posture resets, mindfulness prompts, and quick planning tips. - Personalized Onboarding: Get started immediately by selecting the habit you want to tackle. Choose from pre-made blocklist suggestions for social media, shopping, news, and more. CHOOSE YOUR MODE: FOCUS OR BALANCE The 20s Rule adapts to your lifestyle with two distinct modes: - Focus Mode: For total commitment. Focus Mode disables all exceptions—no skips, pauses, or schedules are allowed. It helps you build a streak of consecutive days of intentional browsing, with a counter to track and celebrate your progress. - Balanced Mode: For power with flexibility. This mode gives you access to practical tools for when life requires exceptions. BALANCED MODE FEATURES - Active Hours: A powerful scheduler for your work-life balance. Set the extension to be active only during specific hours and days (e.g., 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday to Friday). Outside of your set schedule, your sites are fully accessible, giving you focus when you need it and freedom when you don't. - Daily Skips: Grant yourself a limited number of skips per day for times when you genuinely need immediate access to a blocked site. - Quick Pause: Need to do focused research? Temporarily pause the entire extension for 15 minutes with a single click. Privacy-Focused by Design Your privacy and trust are our top priorities. To improve the extension, we collect a small amount of completely anonymous usage data. We DO NOT collect: - Any of your personal data - Your browsing history or IP address - Any information that can be tied back to you We DO collect: - Anonymous events like installations and pause outcomes (e.g., whether a site was visited or closed) to find bugs and make improvements. All data is aggregated and used only to make The 20s Rule better, and understand how it is used. Take the first step toward a more intentional and productive digital life. Install The 20s Rule and start redesigning your habits today.