The Wake-Up Call
I was a third-year high school student with dreams of attending Tokyo University. But there was one problem: I was completely addicted to my phone.
Every day, I would tell myself I'd start studying after "just one more video" or "just checking my notifications." Before I knew it, hours had passed, and I was still scrolling.
My Daily Screen Time: 10+ Hours
When I checked my screen time report, I was shocked. I was spending over 10 hours a day on my phone - mostly on social media, games, and video streaming. That's more than I slept!
I tried everything:
- Deleted apps (re-installed them within hours)
- Set app timers (ignored them)
- Asked my parents to hide my phone (found it)
- Told myself to be more disciplined (failed every time)
Nothing worked because the problem wasn't willpower - it was the phone itself.
Discovering Ace Lock
A friend whose brother had passed his university exams mentioned an app called Ace Lock. At first, I was skeptical. Another app limit thing? But this was different.
When I started a study session with Ace Lock, there was no option to "snooze for 5 minutes" or "skip today." The phone was locked. Period. If I wanted to use my phone, I had to wait 60 seconds and type "I give up" - and that friction was enough to make me stop and reconsider.
The First Week Was Hell
I won't lie - the first week was brutal. I felt phantom vibrations. I reached for my phone countless times only to remember it was locked. But something interesting happened: I started noticing how often I mindlessly reached for my phone. It was scary.
By the end of the first week, I had studied more than I had in the entire previous month.
Building New Habits
As days turned into weeks, something changed. The urge to check my phone during study time faded. I started enjoying the focused study sessions. The study log feature showed me exactly how much time I was investing in my future - and that number grew every day.
The Results
After 8 months of using Ace Lock:
- My mock exam scores improved by 15 points
- My average daily study time went from 1 hour to 5 hours
- My screen time dropped to 2 hours per day
- I developed genuine self-discipline
And finally, I received my acceptance letter from Tokyo University.
What I Learned
- 1. Willpower isn't enough - You need systems and tools to support your goals
- 2. Small friction makes a big difference - The 60-second wait was all I needed to break the habit loop
- 3. Tracking progress builds confidence - Seeing my study hours accumulate gave me confidence for the exam
- 4. It's never too late - I started using Ace Lock in April of my final year. You can change too.
My Advice to Current Exam Students
If you're struggling with phone addiction while preparing for exams, know that you're not alone. And more importantly, know that there's a solution. Ace Lock gave me back control of my time and my future.
The phone will always be there after the exam. Your dreams won't wait forever.
頑張れ受験生！ 🎯