The Illusion of Restraint
There are hundreds of "focus apps" on the market. Most of them have a fatal flaw: they are too nice.
They allow you to:
- "Take a break" whenever you want
- Cancel the timer with one tap
- Whitelist "educational" apps (that you use to browse Reddit)
This isn't a lock. It's a suggestion. And to a brain craving dopamine, suggestions are meaningless.
The Negotiator in Your Head
When studying gets hard, a voice in your head starts negotiating.
"I'll just check for 2 minutes."
"I need to message my friend about homework."
"This app isn't really distracted..."
If your app allows negotiation, you will lose. The addiction is smarter than you are in that moment of weakness.
Why Hardcore Blocking Works
Ace Lock is built on the philosophy of "Zero Negotiation."
When you activate Absolute Lock Mode:
- 1. The Option is Gone: You literally cannot access the apps. The mental energy spent fighting the urge is freed up for studying since there's no choice to make.
- 2. Commitment Device: Behavioral economics tells us that pre-committing to a restriction is the most effective way to change behavior. You make the choice when you are strong (before studying) to bind yourself when you are weak (during studying).
- 3. Emergency Only: We allow emergency calls. That's it. Everything else can wait.
"But isn't it too extreme?"
If you were training for the Olympics, would you say a coach who forbids junk food is "too extreme"?
Exams are mental athletics. Use professional-grade tools.
Graduating from Hardcore Mode
Interestingly, many users report that after 3-4 weeks of Hardcore Mode, they no longer need it as much.
Why? Because they broke the habit loop. They retrained their brains.
But to get there, you often need the nuclear option first.
Stop Negotiating. Start Studying.
Don't settle for "gentle." Your exams don't care if you were "gently" distracted. They only care about your results.
Get hardcore. Get Ace Lock.
頑張れ受験生！ 🎯