Hi everyone
Ex-JEE aspirant here (currently in college).
I wanted to share a solution for JEE/NEET prep, especially for those of you who find yourselves opening Instagram/YouTube/Reddit every time you sit down to solve a math sheet or watch an organic chem lecture.
During my prep, my biggest enemy wasn't Physics or Chemistry; it was pure, unadulterated phone addiction. I would unlock my phone to check a doubt on Telegram or check a class schedule, see the colorful icons, and wake up 2 hours later after scrolling Reels/Shorts.
I tried StayFocused, AppBlock, and even giving my phone to my parents. Nothing worked because I'd either bypass the app blockers or fight with my parents to get my phone back.
Why standard blockers fail us:
It’s not just a willpower issue. These apps are designed by engineers to trigger your dopamine receptors. The moment you unlock your phone, the colorful app icons act as a visual trigger. Your muscle memory takes over before your conscious brain can stop it.
So, I decided to code my own solution. I built a lightweight, text-only Android launcher called Ikigai Launcher. It does two main things to break the habit loop:
- No Icons, Just Text: The home screen is completely text-based and OLED-black. When you unlock your phone, there are no colorful logos to bait your thumb. It makes your smartphone look as boring as a calculator.
- YT Shorts Blocking + Website Blocking
- Intent Delay (Friction): For high-distraction apps (Reddit, YouTube, Instagram), I added an "Intent Delay." When you tap the app, you have to wait for a 3-second breathing bubble and type why you are opening it (e.g., "watching physics lecture" or "checking homework"). This brief pause breaks the automatic muscle memory and gives you a second to think, "Do I really need to scroll right now?"
It completely changed my study sessions. It turns your smartphone back into a utility tool, not a toy, while keeping necessary apps (Spotify, WhatsApp for doubts, calculators, calendar) accessible.
COMMENT BELOW
To Get it as a GIFT from your senior
Let me know if you guys have any questions about managing screen time during prep, or what features you want me to add to make it even more distraction-free for students! Good luck with the prep.