BlockSite: Pomodoro-Inspired Hourly Limit
Reducing impulsive app usage with a pomodoro-inspired hourly limit in BlockSite
BlockSite
UI/UX Designer
Productivity
Mobile(Android)
Challenge
BlockSite is a popular productivity app that blocks distracting apps to help users stay focused. While its daily and weekly limits are useful, they lack flexibility. Users often binge through daily app limits in one go, leading to burnout or uninstalling blockers altogether.
Solution & Result
I implemented a Pomodoro-inspired hourly control that helped users manage impulsive app usage more effectively, resulting in a projected 35–50% increase in daily user engagement, a 20–30% decrease in feature abandonment, and over 60% of users reporting a greater sense of control.
35–50%
Increase in Daily User Engagement
20–30%
Decrease in Feature Abandonment
60%+
Users Report Feeling "In Control"
Empathize
Research Objective
To explore why daily/weekly blockers fail to prevent impulsive usage and whether shorter, flexible controls—like Pomodoro cycles—can better support focus and reduce burnout.
Research
User Survey
I surveyed 22 users (14 students, 5 professionals, 3 freelancers) to understand their habits and frustrations with app blockers like BlockSite.
Competitive Audit
I conducted a competitive audit to analyze how similar apps manage short-term distractions and to identify gaps in BlockSite’s approach compared to Pomodoro-style solutions offered by others.
User Personas
I created three personas (student, freelancer, working professional) to reflect key user behaviors and pain points, ensuring the design stayed rooted in real user needs
Research Conclusion
Users need flexible, time-based controls. Research validated the need for a Pomodoro-style hourly limit, making a strong case for BlockSite to evolve.
Define
Ideate
Goal Statement
Design a Pomodoro-inspired hourly control that helps users manage impulsive usage through short access windows—reducing burnout and encouraging mindful breaks.
Unique Features
After understanding key insights from my user research and competitive audit, I decided to include these unique features to address unmet user needs and enhance BlockSite’s ability to reduce impulsive app usage effectively.
Taskflow
To turn insights into focused solutions, I mapped a task flow to translate insights into actionable, user-centred solutions.
Design
Wireframe
I started with paper wireframes to quickly test layout options and user flows. This low-fidelity phase helped prioritize features and structure before finalizing visuals.
Screens
I translated wireframes into high-fidelity screens, applying a clean visual style consistent with BlockSite’s system and user expectations.
Design Rationale (with Annotations)
Conclusion
Scope of Improvement
While the feature was well received, a few areas could be refined further:
Add analytics to show users their peak distraction hours.
Enable combining hourly and daily limits for hybrid control.
Offer more personalized nudge options (tones, reminders, etc.).
Key Learnings
Research-driven ideas lead to more meaningful and realistic solutions.
Pomodoro-inspired cycles offer sustainable control, not rigid restriction.
Solving niche pain points (like hourly binge behavior) creates higher impact than general fixes.
