Pomodoro Timer with Website Blocking
Traditional Pomodoro timers track time but don't protect it. Focuh combines a flexible focus timer with system-level website blocking — so your focus sessions are actually distraction-free, not just timed.
What's Wrong with Traditional Pomodoro Timers?
Traditional Pomodoro timers do one thing: count down from 25 minutes. They tell you when to work and when to break, but they don't do anything about the distractions that prevent you from actually working during those 25 minutes.
A timer running on your screen doesn't stop you from opening Twitter. It doesn't prevent you from checking YouTube "for just a second." It doesn't block the news site that pulls you in every time something happens.
The timer tracks time. It doesn't protect it. And for most people, time tracking without distraction protection is like having a gym membership you never use — technically you have the tool, but the outcome doesn't change.
Why Combine a Timer with Website Blocking?
When you pair a focus timer with a website blocker, each tool reinforces the other:
The timer creates structure. You know exactly how long you're committing to focus. The countdown provides urgency and a visible endpoint — both of which help sustain attention.
The blocker creates protection. Your distraction sites are inaccessible for the duration of the session. When the impulse to check social media fires (and it will), it hits a wall instead of a rabbit hole.
Together, they transform a focus session from "I'm going to try to focus for 25 minutes" into "I am focused for 25 minutes, and distractions are physically blocked." The difference in output is significant.
How Focuh Combines Timer and Blocking
Focuh is a free macOS app that combines a focus timer with system-level website blocking. Here's how the workflow looks:
1. Choose your task. Pick what you're working on from your task board (or add a new task).
2. Set your timer. Choose any duration — not just 25 minutes. Focuh supports flexible session lengths so you can match the timer to the task: 15 minutes for a quick email batch, 90 minutes for deep work.
3. Start the session. When the timer starts, your chosen distraction sites are blocked at the macOS system level. Every browser on your Mac is covered.
4. Work without distraction. During the session, blocked sites show a block page instead of their normal content. The impulse to procrastinate is acknowledged and immediately stopped.
5. Session ends, blocks lift. When the timer finishes, full site access is restored. Take a break, check whatever you want, then start a new session when you're ready.
How Is This Different from Separate Timer and Blocker Apps?
You could run a Pomodoro timer alongside a separate website blocker. But the integration matters:
One-step activation. With separate apps, you need to start your timer AND activate your blocker. That's two steps, and ADHD or busy brains will forget one. Focuh does both with a single action.
Synchronized timing. The blocker automatically lifts when the timer ends. No need to manually unblock sites or remember to turn off the blocker after your session.
Task context. Focuh connects your timer to a specific task. Instead of just "focusing for 25 minutes," you're "writing the Q3 report for 45 minutes with Twitter blocked." This specificity improves focus.
Built-in task management. Your tasks, timer, and blocker are in one place. No switching between three apps to manage your focus workflow.
Tips for Getting the Most from Timer + Blocking
Start with flexible timing, not strict Pomodoro. The 25-minute Pomodoro interval is arbitrary. Some tasks need 15 minutes, some need 90. Match the timer to the work, not the other way around.
Block your personal top 5 distractions. You don't need to block the entire internet. Most people have 3-5 sites that consume 90% of their distraction time. Block those specifically.
Use breaks intentionally. When the timer ends and sites unblock, decide consciously whether to check social media or take a non-screen break. The brief pause between "sites are available" and "I'm scrolling" is where you build better habits.
Let yourself extend good sessions. If you're in flow when the timer goes off, start another session immediately. The timer should help you focus, not interrupt you when focus is already happening.
Track which tasks take longer than expected. Over time, you'll build better intuition about how long different types of work actually take. This improves your planning accuracy and reduces the stress of underestimating.
Who Is This For?
The timer + blocker combination works for anyone who has tried Pomodoro-style focus sessions and found that the timer alone isn't enough:
- People who start a Pomodoro timer but still check social media during the session
- Students who need study sessions that are actually distraction-free
- Remote workers who want office-like focus constraints at home
- Anyone who has realized that timing work and protecting work are two different problems
Focuh is free for macOS. It gives you a flexible focus timer, system-level website blocking, and a task board in one app — everything you need to make timed focus sessions actually productive.