Guide
Block distracting websites while studying.
You sit down to study, open one tab to "check something," and forty minutes vanish. Here is how to block the sites that wreck study time for free, with a blocker that turns on the second a study round starts and off when you take a break.
To block distracting websites while studying for free, open GoFlow, install the free Focus Guard extension, add the sites that wreck your study time like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit, then start a study round. They block automatically while you study and unblock when the round ends. No account needed.
Why does studying fall apart so fast?
Studying is hard work, and your brain looks for an easier task the moment things get tough. A feed, a video, a quick game, those are all one click away and they feel like a reward. The problem is you make that choice dozens of times per study session, and you will lose plenty of them. Removing the easy escape during study time is far more reliable than promising yourself you will be disciplined.
How do you study without the easy escape?
Tie blocking to your study sessions, not to the whole day, so your research sites and school tools stay open while the time sinks shut. GoFlow uses a free study timer and a free Focus Guard extension that share one blocklist. You build the list once, start a round, and the sites you chose go dark until the round ends. No willpower required during the hard part.
Step by step
- Open GoFlow. Go to goflow.space/app in your browser. There is no sign-up, so you can start right now.
- Get the free Focus Guard extension. In GoFlow, open Settings and click Download Focus Guard. Extract the downloaded file to get a folder.
- Load it in your browser. In Chrome, Edge, or Brave, open the extensions page, turn on Developer mode, click Load unpacked, and pick the extracted folder. It takes about a minute and needs no store account.
- Build your study blocklist. Add the sites that wreck study time: youtube.com, instagram.com, tiktok.com, reddit.com, plus any games or shopping you drift to.
- Start a study round. The instant the round begins, those sites are blocked across every tab. When the round ends or you take a break, they open back up.
What should a student blocklist include?
Keep it to the handful that actually cost you study time, and leave your research and reference sites open. The table below is a good starting point you can trim or grow.
| Category | Sites to block | Keep open |
|---|---|---|
| Video | youtube.com, tiktok.com | Course videos you need |
| Social | instagram.com, x.com | School portal |
| Forums | reddit.com | Reference and research |
| Games and shopping | game and store sites | Library catalog |
A note on how blocking works
A normal web page cannot block other sites for security reasons, which is why blocking lives in a small browser extension. GoFlow's Focus Guard is free, keeps your list on your device, and never tracks your browsing. The app and the extension share one list, so you manage it in one place. If you are on a managed school laptop, check that extensions are allowed first.
Set it up before your next study session
Free, automatic, and on only while you study. Block the time sinks and keep your research open.
Open GoFlow freeCommon questions
Is it really free?
Yes. GoFlow and the Focus Guard extension are both free, with no account and no subscription.
Can I keep research sites open?
Yes. You only block the sites you add, so research tools, your portal, and reference sites stay available.
Does it track my study time?
Yes. GoFlow tracks focus time per task across days and shows a daily and weekly dashboard with a streak, so you can see your study habit add up.
Will it work during exams week?
It works any time you start a round. Many students set longer study rounds during exams and keep the same blocklist running.