Browser extension Limit promises to keep you focused on important tasks by setting time limits for distracting websites.
We have all been there probably: you need to focus on “something” important on your electronic devices but are distracted all the time. Notifications, chat messages, a quick browse on YouTube, checking your social media feed, or something else. The Internet is full of distractions.
Not everyone has the focus of a Shaolin Monk who keep focused no matter what. Extensions like Limit promise to help you out.
Limit – daily time limits for distracting websites
Limit is a browser extension for Google Chrome and also other Chromium-based browsers. It worked well in Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi during tests.
The core idea behind the extension is to set access limits for certain websites. In other words: you may access the sites for the set limit only on any given day.
The extension is developed by the makers of Freedom. Freedom is the big brother of Limit. It runs system-wide, which means that it can also block distracting apps on supported systems.
Limit comes with a list of preset sites. These include some of the worst offenders when it comes to distractions, including YouTube, Netflix, Reddit, and Facebook. These sites can be removed from the configuration.
There is also an option to add any website. Just open the Settings of the extension, type the domain name, e.g., chipp.in, and activate the “add website” button.
Limit displays a notification when a time-limited website is opened. It reminds you of the time limit. Hover over the extension icon in the browser’s interface to get detailed information on the time spent and time left.
Limit blocks access to the website once you reach the set time limit.
Caveats
Limit is provided as a browser extension. It works therefore only in select browsers. While that may be sufficient if you just need a little push in the right direction to remain focused, it is quite easy to bypass the limits.
Apart from changing the daily time limit for the site to get more play time, using another browser is also an option to bypass the restriction.
If that is not enough, there are plenty of additional options available. Access the site using its IP address, use a proxy service, or a screenshot service.
Obviously, since you are in control, you may also uninstall the extension at any time or disable it.
Closing Words
Limit’s main goal of reducing the time spent on distracting websites depends entirely on the user. If you just need a little push, it may work well to keep you focused. If you need a bulletproof option, Limit is not the right extension for you. Freedom might work better, but it is a subscription-based service.
Now You: how do you handle distractions while working?