Introduction
Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you all had a great week. Remember, if this issue shows up in your promotions folder, add it to your main inbox so you don’t miss any future issues.
Just like Monday’s issue, I’m bringing back Opal (the second tool I made an issue on). Again, this is because many new people haven’t read my older issues. And also because this week was busy and I didn’t have time to write about a new tool (oops)😛.
Opal
🧠 What Is It?
Opal is a focus app that helps you stay off distracting apps and be more intentional with your time. No need to delete your apps. Just block them with Opal.
Block apps and websites during scheduled focus sessions.
Create different modes and times for block (work, study, sleep).
Optional “deep focus” modes that are hard to override.
⚙ How Do You Use It?
Run productivity experiments like blocking neutral apps such as email, calendar, or even Google, and see how your day gets better or worse. Or block distracting apps either in the morning or at night to see when you’d like to spend your time online more. You try something for only a day (bop it), and if it doesn’t work, you can try something else (drop it).
Instead of using Opal as a “punishment” by making the focus disabling a distracting app, use it as a reward. Make pleasure apps feel like a reward by making them only accessible during a part of the day. Treat it as if blocked apps are the norm, and when they’re unblocked, it’s like a gift for yourself. It’ll take time to adjust to, but after that, you’ll feel 10x as productive.
Have only the apps that help you with the task that you’re doing enabled. If you’re at the gym, enable only Spotify and Fitbod. Studying for a test? Quizlet and ChatGPT (😉). Basically, use Opal to pull your attention to the task at hand. No more calculating your macros while studying for that 50% of your grade final tomorrow.
🧹 What Does it Replace?
It’s no secret now that Opal is an absolute weapon for being your most productive self. But you can always save time by losing the alternatives, and time is productivity.
Manually enabling Screen Time every time you want to concentrate.
Janky Chrome Extensions that break down or don’t work on mobile.
Willpower alone:
“You underestimate my power!” - Anakin.
“Don’t try it.” - Obi-Wan.
🤫 Tulio’s Tips
Silence the Noise: Before you start any focused work, manually mute notifications. Even if Opal is blocking them. The double-layer helps fight muscle memory 💪.
Theme Your Time: Use “Focus Hours” instead of just task lists. For example, 2-4 PM = Deep Work Block. Don’t just plan what, plan when.
Use Your Phone…To Hide Your Phone: Try stashing it in a random drawer or across the room. Physically removing it makes it way harder to fall for temptation.
📆 Weekday Challenge
🌅 One Morning, Zero Phone
Try to go phone-free for one entire morning this weekend.
Doesn’t matter which day. But you can’t touch it the entire morning, starting from when you wake up.
Challenge ends at noon.
Detox mode: activated.
🤣 Tulio Timeout
That’s all for now. Hope you read this,
Tulio.