HeyDockWebsite blockers usually come in two strengths: easy to switch off, or impossible to. The first stops working the first time you’re tired. The second stops working the first time you genuinely need the blocked site — and then you uninstall it.
Why a pause can beat a wall
Most drift isn’t a decision. You open a new tab, your fingers type the first two letters of a familiar site, and you’re there before you notice. A wall stops that, but it also stops the legitimate visit, so you learn to get around it.
A pause stops the automatic part and leaves the choice. A few seconds of “are you sure?” is enough to notice you’re drifting. When you really need the site, you wait and carry on.
What a good pause looks like
- Asks, doesn’t punish. One click to stay should always be the easiest option.
- Costs a little time to switch, and a bit more the more often you switch.
- Knows what the site is for. GitHub is fine while you’re coding and a detour while you’re writing.
- Has an escape hatch. “Allow once” beats turning the whole thing off.
When to pick a hard blocker instead
If you need a lock you can’t undo — across your phone and computer — a blocker with a locked mode is the right tool. Our comparison page lists a few, with their own terms.
How HeyDock does it
HeyDock is our app. During Focus, its Stay-or-switch gate asks before you open another mode’s app or site: Stay is one click; switching waits 15 seconds for Social by default, and Strict asks you to say why. In Chrome, Brave, Arc and Edge the browser extension blurs an off-mode tab and asks once you’ve stayed 1.5 seconds.