Sphinx — Doomscroll Smarter
Block distracting websites by solving math or coding puzzles.
hackitup7 · HN
TLDR built a Chrome site blocker that lets you into distracting sites only after you do some math or simple coding (JS only right now). Direct link to extension (the site just gives you more context): https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/sphinx-earn-your-di... Philosophically it's a speed bump rather than a hard gate, because you'll eventually tear a gate down but you'll leave a speed bump. I've always eventually removed site blockers, or just had them become a nuisance that I reflexively dismiss before getting to distracting sites. Site blockers don't really reduce the "start navigating to a distracting site" muscle memory, and they eventually just become annoying. Dopamine is a hell of a drug. At the same time, I've been getting frustrated that my intermediate/advanced math skills have atrophied, and becoming more senior in my career (plus AI...) has caused my coding skills to atrophy even further. Realistically I'm not going to force myself to do math or coding exercises aft
