one sec
one sec is a friction app that intercepts you opening a distracting app and makes you take a short breathing pause first, then asks whether you still want to continue. Rather than blocking, it breaks the autopilot loop; a randomised controlled study by Grüning and colleagues (2023, PNAS) found the intervention substantially reduced app opens over time.
| Category | Friction / mindfulness-based app deterrent |
|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS, iPad, Android; web extension |
| Price | Free for one app; Pro subscription roughly €14.99/year, lifetime option (check current pricing) |
| Best for | Habitual, unconscious app-opening; people who find hard blockers triggering or too rigid |
| Limitations | You can always continue past the pause, so it will not stop determined bingeing; one app only on the free tier |
What it does well
- Targets the real mechanism of most phone procrastination: unconscious, automatic opens rather than deliberate decisions.
- Unusually for this category, it has peer-reviewed evidence behind its core intervention.
- Cheap relative to Opal and Freedom, and the single-app free tier is a genuine trial.
Where it falls short
- It is friction, not a wall: when you consciously want to scroll, one breath will not stop you.
- Setup on iOS runs through Shortcuts automations, which some users find fiddly and occasionally fragile.
- Does nothing about desktop distraction or app usage once you are past the pause.
Related
Implementation intentionsStop procrastinating on going to bed
Frequently asked questions
Does the one sec app actually work?
For cutting mindless opens, the evidence is unusually good: a 2023 randomised study in PNAS found significant reductions in target app usage, with many opens abandoned at the pause. It works less well against deliberate, chosen scrolling, where a hard blocker fits better.