Know-how fades; tools persist. These are five of the tools people actually stick with, chosen for real staying power. (The full, vetted list lives in the Tools & Technology section.)
1. Cold Turkey (Windows / Mac)
A hard blocker with a deliberately annoying personality: once a block starts, ending it early is designed to be painful. Strong pick if you need hard friction during the first two weeks. Freemium.
2. LeechBlock NG (Browser extension)
Free, open, and quietly powerful — time-window rules, site lists, delay pages that make you wait out a countdown before a site opens. The delay page alone interrupts a surprising number of waves. Free.
3. NextDNS (Network-wide DNS filter)
One account filters every device on your network at the DNS layer: set adult-content categories blocked, optionally log hits to see patterns. Works on phones away from home too (via the app or private DNS).
4. ScreenZen (Android / iOS)
A phone-side guardrail: adds a breathing pause before opening any app you flag, and nags repeatedly during use — designed with input from people trying to reduce compulsive use. Free.
5. Covenant Eyes (Windows / Mac / Android / iOS)
Screen monitoring with accountability reporting: a trusted ally receives summaries of your screen activity. The strongest option if your plan includes a real accountability partner. Paid.
Choosing when you don’t need anything fancy
If picking feels heavy, take the default stack: LeechBlock on the browser, NextDNS on the network, ScreenZen on the phone. That trio covers the vast majority of moments where the wave peaks — roughly five minutes to set up, and all of it free.
Today’s action
Pick one tool from this list and install it before you close this tab. One installed today outweighs five planned for next week.