Advanced Tips & Tricks for Freedom Users

Studies show high levels of concentration shield against distractions, but how do you begin to cultivate concentration? When it’s time to lock into deep focus, Freedom users know it’s easy to begin a Block session that cuts off access to distracting sites and apps during daily work. However, seasoned users can take advantage of a few helpful tips for optimized productivity. Here’s several lesser-known features of Freedom that you can integrate into your workflow to maximize your work time. 

Mastering Locked Mode 

Do you have a critical work deadline or final exam within 24 hours and you’ve found yourself at the edge of procrastination and panic? It’s time to enter Locked Mode, which will force you to stay accountable to your work by preventing you from disrupting an active session. We recommend that only experienced users use this feature, which can be enabled on the Freedom computer Dashboard under Options.

Once it’s activated, Locked Mode will prevent users from:

• Ending an active session early more than once in a 7 day time period.
• Deleting items from your Blocklist part of a current session.
• Removing devices from your device list within the active session.
• Editing your account’s timezone during a Block session.

You can disable Locked Mode when there are no active sessions. Find out how to enable and disable Locked Mode on iOS, Android, and other devices here so you can enter new modes of productivity.  

Scheduling Recurring Sessions for Consistency 

Setting up a Block session on a whim is nice, but it’s easy to get sucked into distracting sites before you know it. That’s when Recurring Sessions can come in handy for building healthy habits, whether you need to schedule daily “deep work” periods or block distractions during family mealtimes. 

A Recurring Session will occur at the same time for certain days of your choice. To set one up, log in to your Dashboard, then select Recurring Session. Pick your start and end time, and the days of the week you want the session to occur. Choose the desired blocklists you’d like to include in the Session, and the active devices where the session can occur. 

With recurring sessions, you’ll be able to ace your morning deep work sessions, remain off distracting sites in your free time, and stay present with your friends and family. Over time, you’ll be able to more easily focus on the task at hand without searching for distractions. 

Amplifying Focus with Freedom’s Pomodoro Sounds 

Sometimes, a block session that lasts an hour feels too long of a time to focus. However, the Pomodoro technique splits up your work flows into manageable 25 minute chunks, with a 5-minute rest time at the end of your session. It’s easy to set up recurring 25-minute sessions on the Freedom Dashboard, but using Freedom’s Focus Sounds can enhance your focus and make the time fly by.

Under Freedom’s Focus Sounds on the Dashboard, you can choose between background noise of global coffee shops, nature landscapes, white noise, brain-stimulating beats, and more. But at the bottom of the list, Freedom offers Pomodoro Focus Sounds that sync up perfectly with your 25 minute sessions and 5 minutes of rest. 

At the start of a Block session, all you have to do is press play on your desired Pomodoro track, and the music will let you know when it’s time for your 5 minute break at the end of the Block Session. Then, you’ll be nudged to return to work, and the music and Block Session will seamlessly transition again for a productive rhythm. 

Managing Multiple Devices for Seamless Freedom 

So you’re trying to cut down from incessant YouTube streaming during work hours, and you’ve blocked it on your laptop during work hours. However, you quickly realize you can still easily access YouTube via your cellphone. So much for productivity. 

Not to worry: Freedom has a multi-device setup that allows you to sync your sessions across smartphones, tablets, and computers. To add multiple devices, go to the dashboard, and click Add under My Devices. It’ll take you to the Downloads page, where you can install the software for your device of choice, then login to your account to ensure it appears under My Devices. 

Find more details for adding multiple devices here. With Freedom synced across all your devices, you’ll be able to stay free from distractions during meetings, study sessions, and creative projects. 

Going All In: Setting Up 24-Hour Sessions

Did you know that you can stay distraction-free 24/7? Whether you’re trying to cram in a weekend-long study session, a weeklong digital detox, or an end to your social media addiction, 24-hour sessions can help you achieve long-term focus. 

If you’d like to configure a 24/7 session, head to the Freedom dashboard and select Recurring Session. Make your Start and End Time the same, then add your desired Blocklists and Devices. Once you Save the session, you’ll be able to stay distraction-free for as long as you desire, whether you’re a productivity enthusiast or a modern monk. 

Bringing It All Together: Custom Strategies for Power Users 

Advanced Freedom users can mix and match these features depending on individual needs. For example, a remote freelancer can create Recurring Pomodoro Sessions with Focus Sounds from 10 to 1 on weekdays for peak writing hours across multiple platforms. An artist may configure a 24/7 Session on Locked Mode across all their devices to unlock full creativity during their residency. The customizable options are endless with Freedom. By experimenting with different features, you can make any work, social, or creative environment free of distractions so you can get back to focusing on what really matters.

Written by Lorena Bally