How to temporarily block websites for studying

The internet can help students in various ways, allowing them easy access to seemingly endless resources and interactive learning tools. Unfortunately, it can also lead them astray, making them forget about studying. After all, scrolling through an addictive social media app like TikTok or going down a thrilling YouTube rabbit hole is usually much more appealing than studying.

However, studying is inevitable, so you’ll have to find a way to quit distracting websites that cause procrastination and lower your productivity. Enter website blocking. This effective method will cut off your access to these distracting sites for a specified period, allowing you to get down to work.

Keep reading to learn how to block sites temporarily and what else you can do to boost your productivity.

Methods of website blocking

A distraction blocker will come in handy regardless of your studying approach. Still, it can particularly benefit students using the Pomodoro technique. This is a time management method where you work in 25-minute intervals and then take a short break to recharge.

Here are some methods you can use during any studying session to block distractions on your computer and maximize your productivity.

Blocking on Windows

Windows offers built-in parental controls primarily designed to block all inappropriate computer content for children. However, you can use these controls to block specific websites which are distracting you from learning. Here’s what to do:

1. Go to “Settings.”
2. Select “Accounts.”
3. Click on “Family & other people.”
4. Choose “Add a child.”
5. Navigate to “Web browsing.”
6. Add the URLs of any sites you want to be blocked.

Once you’ve set up the parental controls, you can log in as the child account and you can study without getting sidetracked.

Blocking on Mac

Like Windows, Mac provides native parental controls that you can use to create hard blocks on distracting websites. Follow these steps to create a website block list on macOS:

1. Navigate to “System Preferences.”
2. Select “Parental Controls.”
3. Go to “Create a new user account with parental controls.”
4. Return to “Parental controls” and click on the account you just created.
5. Select websites and apps you want to block and set their time limits.
6. Log out from your original account.
7. Log in with the new account credentials.

Blocking via browsers

Enabling parental controls on your computer will prevent your browser from accessing the chosen websites. However, you can also download a dedicated website blocker for your web browser. This method is more flexible and offers more features than parental controls.

Besides a browser add-on, website blockers are available for your iOS and Android mobile devices and computers. 

Use dedicated website blockers

Here are some of the best website blockers you can use to block apps and blacklist websites that keep you from studying.

StayFocusd

StayFocusd is a Google Chrome extension that offers a simple way to block distracting websites. This browser extension lets you enter the maximum amount of time to spend on specific websites before it blocks them.

StayFocusd functions on a case-by-case basis, so you won’t be able to block entire website categories, such as social media or entertainment. Instead, you’ll have to manually enter specific subdomains, pages, or content.

LeechBlock NG

LeechBlock is a Firefox extension that allows you to create custom rules on which websites to block, when, and how. This blocker is highly customizable and enables blocking only during specific time blocks. LeechBlock also offers a whitelist function, allowing you to block entire internet access except for the websites you’ve marked as allowed.

Cold Turkey

Cold Turkey is a cross-browser website blocker you can use on multiple browsers, including Safari. It offers a handy locked mode that makes it impossible to go back to procrastinating until the timer rings. Cold Turkey is so powerful that it doesn’t even let you uninstall it during a block.

In addition, this blocker helps you track time spent on different web pages and apps, thus giving you an insight into your biggest time-wasters.

SelfControl

SelfControl is a simple website blocker with a minimalist design available for Mac computers. This blocker doesn’t use extensions. Instead, it blocks websites and apps using the host file system. As a result, the imposed block is system-wide and affects all the apps on the computer. This also means SelfControl will work with whatever browser you use.

Speechify can boost productivity further

If blocking websites still doesn’t give you the willpower to study, you should try assistive tools that can help boost your productivity.

Speechify is a powerful text to speech (TTS) service that can convert almost any digital text into audio output. By listening to study materials instead of reading them, you’ll be able to focus better and retain more information.

Since Speechify is available across all major platforms, you’ll be able to study anywhere, whenever you feel productive. Thanks to optical character recognition (OCR) functionality, you can even convert your notes into handy audio files available on the go.

To discover how Speechify can help you study better, download the app for free today and start exploring.

FAQ

How do I block a website while studying for free?

If you want to block a website for free, you don’t have to look further than your computer’s operating system. Windows and Mac computers have built-in parental controls that allow you to block web pages for a specific amount of time. Plus, some dedicated app blockers are free or offer free trials.

How do I block websites on a student’s computer?

You can block websites on a student’s computer by turning on parental controls or installing a website blocker like SelfControl or Cold Turkey.

How can I temporarily block a website on Google Chrome?

Several Google Chrome extensions offer the possibility of temporarily blocking a website. Some of the best choices include StayFocusd and Limit.

How do I block websites on my iPhone?

To prevent constant notifications from distracting you while studying, you can use built-in parental controls or blockers like Freedom to block websites on your iPhone.

How do I block my favorite websites?

Studying is the time to say goodbye to your favorite websites, which you can do by blocking them via website blockers like LeechBlock.