I swapped endless scrolling for something stranger — and it worked

I’ve tried almost every trick to stop doomscrolling. I used app timers, website blockers, and even grayscale mode on my phone, but they never really worked for me.

So, when I stumbled across Focus Friend, an app that promised to help you stay focused, I was skeptical. It looked too cute to be a serious productivity tool.

Still, something about the absurdity compelled me to try it. If I couldn’t outwit myself with strict tools, maybe I could trick my brain with something silly.

How I started focusing better

All I needed was a bean and some yarn

When I first downloaded Focus Friend, I was greeted by a smiling bean sitting in an empty little room. The setup was simple: choose a session length, press Start, and resist the urge to scroll.

I turned on Deep Focus mode to stop myself from opening social media apps.

If I stayed put and resisted the urge to check my phone, my bean would continue knitting. If I bailed early to check Reddit or Instagram, its work would unravel.

Stick it out, and you earn rewards you can use to decorate its tiny virtual room.

The bean was an accountability buddy

I didn’t want to disappoint my bean

The strangest thing about Focus Friend is how quickly that little bean started feeling like an accountability partner.

It was just there, quietly knitting, relying on me not to mess things up. There was no judging or annoying notifications.

Instead of battling my own willpower, I felt like I was keeping a promise to something outside myself. It’s the same reason workout partners or study groups work so well.

Decorating the bean’s room

It gave me an oddly satisfying sense of progress

The reward at the end of a focus session isn’t just finishing a task, it’s adding something new to the bean’s little room.

You exchange virtual knitted socks or scarves to unlock items such as a tiny plant, a desk, a chair, or a poster. Slowly, the space transformed into a cozy, lived-in corner.

What surprised me was how motivating it became. Every completed session left a mark I could see, and the room gradually reflected the effort I was putting in.

By the end of the week, my bean’s room felt alive, just as my own workday had become more structured.

It’s a small, playful reward system, but it makes staying focused feel a lot more satisfying than just watching the clock.

When Focus Friend didn’t work

No bean is perfect

Focus Friend didn’t magically help me avoid all distractions. There were days when I was too tired, too distracted, or just too stubborn to stay on task.

Sometimes I ignored it, scrolled anyway, and watched its knitting unravel with a mix of guilt and resignation.

Those moments were frustrating, but they also highlighted a key point: the app can guide and motivate, but it can’t replace personal commitment.

The tool works best when you are willing to engage, even if it is for a short session.

Would I keep using Focus Friend?

The tiny bean became my best productivity partner

After a few weeks with Focus Friend, I can confidently say yes. However, the app isn’t perfect. There are still days when I ignore the bean, or when the novelty wears off a bit.

Still, overall, it has made a noticeable difference in how I approach my focus sessions.

Since the app turns staying on task into a playful, almost game-like experience, I’ve started looking forward to sessions and checking in with my bean.

For anyone who has tried timers, blockers, or Pomodoro apps and still struggled to stick with them, Focus Friend offers something different: a mix of accountability and gentle encouragement.

Focus Friend became the strangest productivity hack that worked

Using Focus Friend felt strange at first. A tiny bean knitting in a virtual room isn’t what you’d expect from a productivity app.

However, over time, it became more than a novelty. It helped me resist distractions, stay on task, and even find some enjoyment in maintaining focus.

The app isn’t perfect; there were days it didn’t work, and I still occasionally scrolled anyway. However, the combination of accountability, playful rewards, and a visible representation of progress made a noticeable difference in my habits.

For anyone tired of timers, blockers, or endless scrolling, Focus Friend offers a simple, quirky, and surprisingly effective way to reclaim focus, one knitted stitch at a time.