Browser extension
Strict mode & password protection
Add a cooldown timer or password requirement before blocking settings can be changed. Designed to make impulsive disabling impossible.
Quick answer
Strict mode adds friction. The friction is the feature.
How it works
When strict mode is enabled on a focus mode:
- You cannot immediately disable blocking.
- You cannot switch to a less restrictive mode without waiting through a cooldown.
- The cooldown countdown is visible and cannot be bypassed.
This creates a buffer between impulse and action. Most cravings peak in 5–15 minutes; if disabling blocking takes 15 minutes, most attempts to disable get abandoned partway through.
Enable strict mode
Open the Modes page
app.daybreakpath.com → Focus → Modes.
Edit the focus mode you want to protect
Click the mode card.
Toggle 'Strict mode' on
A cooldown setting appears.
Set the cooldown delay
In minutes. See the table below for typical values.
Save
Strict mode is now active on this focus mode. The next time you try to disable blocking, the cooldown timer fires.
Cooldown periods
| Cooldown | Use for |
|---|---|
| 5 minutes | Light accountability — long enough to pause and reconsider |
| 15 minutes | Moderate — long enough that most acute urges pass |
| 30 minutes | Strong — significant commitment |
| 60+ minutes | Maximum — robust guardrails for known-vulnerable contexts |
There's no "right" number. Start with 15 and adjust based on what actually happens. If you find yourself routinely waiting through the cooldown to bypass blocking, increase it. If you find yourself unable to do legitimate work, decrease it.
Password protection
For an additional layer, you can set a password required to change blocking settings. Useful patterns:
- Personal commitment — set a password and don't write it down. The password becomes a deliberate barrier.
- Accountability partner holds it — share the password with a therapist, partner, or sponsor. To change blocking, you have to ask them. See Accountability partners.
- Family / parental — parents set a password to protect blocking on a shared device.
Set the password from the same Strict mode settings panel.
Tamper protection
Strict mode also enables tamper protection: the extension monitors its own status and warns if someone attempts to disable or remove it through browser settings.
- Disabling the extension while strict mode is active triggers a confirmation prompt with the cooldown timer.
- Removing the extension while strict mode is active is allowed (browser-level — we can't prevent it), but the extension records the removal event in your account log.
Tips for effective use
- Start with a shorter cooldown. 5 minutes for the first week. Build trust in the system before scaling up.
- Pair with an accountability partner for the password. Self- held passwords are useful but easier to override mentally.
- Don't make it impossible. The goal is healthy friction, not a permanent lockout. If you ever need to disable for legitimate reasons (reinstall, OS migration), you should be able to — through the cooldown, not by avoidance.
- Apply selectively. Strict mode on your "Deep Work" mode is great. Strict mode on every mode means you can't switch contexts. Pick the modes that matter.
Common pitfalls
Setting a 24-hour cooldown out of bravado
An hour is plenty for almost everyone. Multi-hour cooldowns produce work-arounds (uninstalling, switching browsers) that defeat the purpose. The most effective cooldown is the one you actually wait through.
Forgetting the password
If you lose a self-held password, you can reset it via email verification — but the reset itself triggers the cooldown period, so you can't immediately disable blocking. If you've shared the password with a partner, ask them.
Next steps
- Focus modes — strict mode is per-mode.
- Accountability partners — the cleanest pairing with password protection.
Still need help?
Pick whichever way of getting help works best for you.
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