A Focus App Idea for Chronic Procrastinators and Job Seekers
A focus companion that blocks distracting content and turns vague self-improvement goals into small, dopamine-rewarding daily milestones for chronic procrastinators.
i need help to be more focused and productive
maybe the wrong sub-reddit, please forgive me.. i've been trying to focus on my job hunt and upskilling on AI etc, but not gaining much traction my day seems to pass by too fast i recently got into a rom-com obsession craze, just finished watching a tv series (i wont' name names) and that's got me distracted ugh i have been a chronic procrastinator and perfectionist my whole life what are some mindset shifts i could adopt to help me get out of this rut?
The problem, in the searcher’s words
I want to focus on my job hunt and learning AI but my day just slips away. I end up binge-watching a TV show instead, and then I feel guilty and stuck. I'm a chronic procrastinator and perfectionist and I don't know what mindset shift or system will actually get me out of this rut.
The advice I find is scattered: read a book, wait for motivation to hit after you start, change your environment, set small goals instead of vague ones like 'learn AI'. Some people say the real fix isn't another productivity system but something that changes your baseline focus itself. I want something that actually breaks the distraction loop, not another article telling me to 'just start'.
What the thread shows
Multiple commenters recognize themselves in the OP's procrastination/distraction pattern and offer their own workarounds (mindset advice, a blocking addon, a hardware device), showing the pain is shared, but no one in the thread states they would pay for a dedicated solution.
“i have been a chronic procrastinator and perfectionist my whole life”
“the rom-com spiral you're describing is your brain seeking easy dopamine. once my baseline improved the pull toward distraction genuinely got weaker”
“ive been having the same issues when trying to study ai on yt for example but i have been using my addon called Igloo which basically blocks me from being side tracked”
“In you case let's say you want to upskill youiselves on AI -> the goal is too vague”
Target customer
Who
Self-directed learners and job seekers (e.g., upskilling in AI) who identify as chronic procrastinators and perfectionists
Context
When working without external accountability (no boss, no class deadlines), they default to easy-dopamine distractions like streaming shows instead of vague, hard-to-start goals like 'learn AI' or 'find a job'.
What to build
- Distraction blocklist for streaming sites/YouTube rabbit holes during set focus windows
- Goal decomposition wizard that turns a vague goal ('learn AI') into a week of small, output-oriented daily milestones
- Daily check-in with a small reward/streak mechanic on milestone completion
- Morning focus-block template based on 'work when dopamine is high' style routines
- Simple progress dashboard showing compounding milestones over time
Build note — Core blocking feature would need a browser extension or OS-level content blocker, similar in mechanism to existing focus extensions; goal-decomposition and check-in features are a straightforward CRUD/tracking backend with no unique data source.
Later, if it lands
Who’s already out there
Browser addon mentioned by a commenter that blocks the user from getting side-tracked while studying online.
Gap: Only addresses the blocking half of the problem; the thread shows people also need help turning vague goals into achievable milestones, which a pure blocker doesn't do.
A tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) device a commenter uses each morning, claimed to stimulate the prefrontal cortex and improve focus/impulse control.
Gap: Hardware-based and makes physiological claims rather than solving the software-side problem of goal structuring and distraction management; not a like-for-like competitor to a focus app.
Demand read
The thread shows recurring self-identification with procrastination and distraction, but every response is either free advice (books, podcasts, mindset reframes) or a self-promoted tool with no stated price or payment intent, so no willingness-to-pay signal is present.
Worth digging into before you build
6 to considerNo idea is a sure thing at this stage — these are open questions worth checking yourself, not a verdict against building it.
Generic Idea
Distraction-blocking/focus apps are a saturated category (e.g., existing blockers like the mentioned 'Igloo'); a new page here is unlikely to differentiate.
Already Solved
Commenter MainInterview3144 says their addon 'Igloo' already blocks them from getting side-tracked, indicating the core blocking need is already served by existing tools.
Weak Demand
No commenter states willingness to pay or names a price; all suggested fixes (books, mindset tips, an addon, a headset) are mentioned without any payment intent.
Verify Competitors
'Igloo' and the 'Mave' headset are only self-reported by commenters; their existence and actual feature sets could not be independently confirmed.
Sensitive Domain
szo6ck's comment makes neurological claims about a tDCS device stimulating the prefrontal cortex; this touches health/medical territory and needs editorial review before publishing.
Other
The post metadata states 24 comments but only 6 were provided in the source material, so the full thread signal may be incomplete.