Mindful Internet Use
A Chrome Extension that prevents mindless browsing
The name MIU, short for Mindful Internet Use, can be viewed as the antonym of the Psychological term Problematic Internet Use (PIU). Problematic Internet Use is described as ”an inability to control one's use of the Internet which leads to negative consequences in daily life”.
Unlike many other extensions, MIU will not provide a quick fix by blocking websites. MIU will instead focus on the reason behind the problem, the user's tendency to browse the web mindlessly. By repeatedly encouraging a more intentional and mindful usage of the internet this extension will help the user to quit undesirable internet use.
The goal of this extension is to give its user a tool to help them avoid mindless browsing and unintentional internet use. This will be done by encouraging the user to breathe and present quotes that remind the user what they value before allowing the user to access a listed website.
Neither your quotes nor list of mindless websites will be sent anywhere, the data will remain secure on your own device.
Source code: https://github.com/IvarssonAndreas/mindful-internet-use
Latest reviews
This is an incredible game-changer. Consider adding a ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ button in the settings because you’re saving me meaningful lifetime. It’s intrusive enough to annoy me, but not so intrusive that I’d remove it. It’s perfect. Thank you very much!
This is a perfect extension. Please update it so I can use it on my Chrome again.
Update extension please, so it can work with new chrome :3 Thank you!
The extension works fine and does what it says, but I really wish it had an option to export all of my quotes. I had a big collection of handpicked quotes that were meaningful to me, and unfortunately, I lost the majority of them after a browser update. I didn’t realize it only keeps a limited number of saved quotes, and there’s no warning or way to back them up or export them easily. I’ve learned my lesson, but I’d really love to see better data management features in future updates.
Great aesthetics. Definitely my favourite extension of its kind! It’s incredibly effective for managing distractions. One additional feature that would make it perfect is to have the ability to block all domains by default but then allow access for a limited time to individual domains. While I can achieve the first part by adding just 'http' as a blocked URL, the second part - granting limited-time access to individual domains - would be a fantastic addition.
Great Idea! Love to see research backed methods being easily accessible by the general public. Love the UI as well!
Excellent. Best idea ever. If Google takes it down, I will make a Firefox version to protect mankind against evil companies trying to hiyack our minds with attention AI algoritms and clickbaits.
I love this extension 10/ 10, is there something similar on iphone or android ?
give option for adjesting duration, like custom 1sec-15sec, you started directly from 10sec, & also give the option of keeping the black page rather than this disturbing circle rounding, i suggest you to refer "pause" extension by freedom, it's clean & simple & cutomizable.
great extension.
I've been looking for this type of extension for a long time! I've just added it so I can't give proper feedback yet (I'll adjust my review after having some experinece) but I just want to express my gratitude to the developer for coming up with it. I've been using a similar tool for my phone called ScreenZen and it improved my experience with technology so much.
Great app to use
It's simply marvelous. I would like to ask you a big favor. I would love the app to block again after the "selectable access time after breathing" has passed. For example: if I select 2 minutes, the after those minutes has passed the app will block the website for exactly the time of breathing time settings and so forth. This is because the app doesn't do it unless i change between tabs and return to the one I want to block. What do you think? Thank you so much. If there is something I can do for help count on me.
Hey, it doesnt seem to work for part of a website. I have set a URL to youtube.com/watch?v=* , but it still plays any video without delay. I would be really glad if you could fix that. Thanks EDIT : It worked. I just needed to remove the '*'. Thanks
Love this -- brilliant and simple! Definitely has me paying attention to when and why I'm choosing these distractions. However, I wish there was the option to assign each URL it's own 'maximum selectable access time'. For example, perhaps I'd have a max access time of 60 minutes for Reddit, but only 10 minutes for Facebook and Instagram. If that setting feature could be updated, the extension would be perfect in my opinion!
Excellent extension to get past any frequent addictions that controls the urge by breathing. A bug I noticed is that I have activated typing quote to unlock. In a particular quote of 'What would it be like if I could accept life – accept this moment – exactly as it is?Tara Brach', I couldn't get through because of the '–' symbol. No matter how many times it did not get through. So I had to reload the page, breathe again, type a different quote and unlock
best tool/extension I have ever used my productivity sky-rocketed with this.
I've tried numerous extensions for keeping me focused throughout the day. This is by far the most well-designed and effective one.
It helps me a lot!!!
Dear developer, I would like to express my appreciation for your app, which has been a game changer for me. However, I have a suggestion that I believe would enhance my experience even further. Is it possible to include an option to hide the count down number during breathing exercises? I believe this would help me focus on my breathing, rather than anticipating the end of the count down. Additionally, I think it would be great if you could add a feature to set the timer with random numbers, as this would prevent me from becoming too accustomed to a regular timer and help maintain its impact. Thank you for your consideration.
Dear developer, I would like to express my appreciation for your app, which has been a game changer for me. However, I have a suggestion that I believe would enhance my experience even further. Is it possible to include an option to hide the count down number during breathing exercises? I believe this would help me focus on my breathing, rather than anticipating the end of the count down. Additionally, I think it would be great if you could add a feature to set the timer with random numbers, as this would prevent me from becoming too accustomed to a regular timer and help maintain its impact. Thank you for your consideration.
The forced breathing really does help you to practice mindfulness.
The forced breathing really does help you to practice mindfulness.
Just fantastic! Would be great to select another option that makes you pause during the browsing by every 5 minutes, which is kind of achieved by the maximum browsing time I use this in junction with the pause extension which also asks me if I really want to enter the website :) https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pause-stop-mindless-brows/ljfdccdjpfjpfjbpdiihanpodilolofh/related
Just fantastic! Would be great to select another option that makes you pause during the browsing by every 5 minutes, which is kind of achieved by the maximum browsing time I use this in junction with the pause extension which also asks me if I really want to enter the website :) https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pause-stop-mindless-brows/ljfdccdjpfjpfjbpdiihanpodilolofh/related
Perfect. Recommend.
Perfect. Recommend.
In my experience, I have found the "Delayed Gratification" extension to be insufficient in limiting my time on distracting websites, as it was easy to bypass by simply opening another tab. However, I have since switched to a different extension that completely resets itself if I attempt to bypass it, and I have noticed that it has helped me to limit my time on distracting websites. One of the features I appreciate about this extension is its ability to reset itself, which has helped me stay focused and productive. However, I have noticed that there is room for improvement, as the extension sometimes repeats itself entirely after finishing a full cycle. I hope that the developers will be able to address this issue in future updates. Overall, I highly recommend this extension for anyone looking to limit their time on distracting websites, as it has been effective in helping me to stay on track and avoid distractions. With some improvements to its functionality, I believe that it has the potential to become an even more valuable tool for productivity and focus.
In my experience, I have found the "Delayed Gratification" extension to be insufficient in limiting my time on distracting websites, as it was easy to bypass by simply opening another tab. However, I have since switched to a different extension that completely resets itself if I attempt to bypass it, and I have noticed that it has helped me to limit my time on distracting websites. One of the features I appreciate about this extension is its ability to reset itself, which has helped me stay focused and productive. However, I have noticed that there is room for improvement, as the extension sometimes repeats itself entirely after finishing a full cycle. I hope that the developers will be able to address this issue in future updates. Overall, I highly recommend this extension for anyone looking to limit their time on distracting websites, as it has been effective in helping me to stay on track and avoid distractions. With some improvements to its functionality, I believe that it has the potential to become an even more valuable tool for productivity and focus.
It is good but along with the URL it should have the block by words feature...It would be more useful in that way
It is good but along with the URL it should have the block by words feature...It would be more useful in that way
Great extension with just the right amount of features! Would love to see option to replace the background to inspiring photos (unsplash) to remind user of the world and opportunity out there
Great extension with just the right amount of features! Would love to see option to replace the background to inspiring photos (unsplash) to remind user of the world and opportunity out there
I'll just say this - Why did't I find this extension earlier!?
I'll just say this - Why did't I find this extension earlier!?
Amazing, really gives breathing space before you choose to engage with a website where you have unhelpful habits. Creates pause points where you have the opportunity to stop what you're doing.
Amazing, really gives breathing space before you choose to engage with a website where you have unhelpful habits. Creates pause points where you have the opportunity to stop what you're doing.
Incredible extension, just the thing that I have been looking for. By the way, please allow the users to set a customized breath timer/cycle, because I believe everybody has their own comforts and discomforts in the aspect of mindful breathing. Thanks for creating this wonderful extension!
Incredible extension, just the thing that I have been looking for. By the way, please allow the users to set a customized breath timer/cycle, because I believe everybody has their own comforts and discomforts in the aspect of mindful breathing. Thanks for creating this wonderful extension!
Hello! Thank you very much for this extension! I've been using it for more than 6 months now and I like it very much. Unfortunately my laziness is too powerful, and often I click "90 minutes" when I really don't need to spend more than 10 minutes on the website, which is why I would love to see the following feature: make the time allowed to spend on the website gradually increase with the number of breaths, so for example after 3 breaths only 5 minutes are available, only 10 after 4 breaths and so on. This would make the extension perfect. Thanks again!
Hello! Thank you very much for this extension! I've been using it for more than 6 months now and I like it very much. Unfortunately my laziness is too powerful, and often I click "90 minutes" when I really don't need to spend more than 10 minutes on the website, which is why I would love to see the following feature: make the time allowed to spend on the website gradually increase with the number of breaths, so for example after 3 breaths only 5 minutes are available, only 10 after 4 breaths and so on. This would make the extension perfect. Thanks again!
Loving this extension so far. First time I've heard of a productivity extension that goes for the root of the problem rather than trying to mitigate the symptoms, and it's definitely working much better for me than other "traditional" extensions I've tried (and deleted b/c they weren't working lol). I especially like the mindfulness breathing required to change certain settings--very nice touch. Personally I'd love to see a whitelist implemented in addition to the mindless website list: for example, I have "twitter.com" set as a mindless website to stop me from endless scrolling, but I'd also want to be able to use "twitter.com/messages" to catch up with friends without the need to go through the breathing exercises. Cheers!
Loving this extension so far. First time I've heard of a productivity extension that goes for the root of the problem rather than trying to mitigate the symptoms, and it's definitely working much better for me than other "traditional" extensions I've tried (and deleted b/c they weren't working lol). I especially like the mindfulness breathing required to change certain settings--very nice touch. Personally I'd love to see a whitelist implemented in addition to the mindless website list: for example, I have "twitter.com" set as a mindless website to stop me from endless scrolling, but I'd also want to be able to use "twitter.com/messages" to catch up with friends without the need to go through the breathing exercises. Cheers!
wow great extension one thing I would love to see, is the quote during the breathing exercise, please add that
wow great extension one thing I would love to see, is the quote during the breathing exercise, please add that
Very cool but I'd love to be able to change the number of breathing quickly because I'm new and it makes me lose time to adjust to what best fits my usage.
Very cool but I'd love to be able to change the number of breathing quickly because I'm new and it makes me lose time to adjust to what best fits my usage.
Litterally saves me 2-3 hours of scrolling a day, thanks !
Litterally saves me 2-3 hours of scrolling a day, thanks !
suggestions: Lock settings with a password that you give to someone else so you cant change them. Set allowance timer once in the settings that would be locked.
