Bonk

How to block distracting websites while studying

Free, takes five minutes · Updated

Studying on a laptop means the distractions are one tab away. Willpower works for about ten minutes, and then you're checking a group chat that wasn't going anywhere.

This guide sets up a study routine in Chrome with Bonk, a free blocker with no account. You get your distracting sites blocked on a schedule, a timer for focused sessions, and a lock for exam week.

Set up a study block in five steps

  1. Add Bonk to Chrome from the Chrome Web Store.
  2. Click the Bonk icon in Chrome's toolbar. Open Categories and YouTube and tap the tiles for what pulls you away, such as Social media, Video & streaming and Gaming. Type in any other site and click Block.
  3. Open the Schedule tab and click New schedule.
  4. Under Start from, pick Study night, which is Sunday to Thursday, 7 to 10pm. Change the days and times to match when you really study.
  5. Click Save.

From now on your sites are blocked during those hours and open the rest of the time, with nothing to remember. Each time you try one, Bonk's blocked page sends you back to your books and counts the attempt.

Study in timed sessions

A schedule covers the evening. For a hard topic, add a timer on top. On the Sites tab, switch the top card to Pomodoro and click Start. Your list is blocked for the whole focus session and opens during the break. The default is 25 minutes on and 5 off, and you can change it to 50 and 10 in Settings. The full setup is in how to use a Pomodoro timer on Chrome.

Allow only what you need

If you'd rather list what you need than everything you don't, use allow-list mode. Allow your course site, your notes and your library, and every other site is blocked. It's covered in how to block all websites except a few.

Lock it for exam week

When you know you'll cave, use hard mode. Pick a length on the Sites tab, click Start hard mode, and click again to confirm. Nothing on your list can be unblocked until the timer ends. Free Bonk covers up to an hour at a time, so start one before each session. There's more in how to block a website so you can't unblock it.

See how much you studied

The Stats tab shows your focus time, your sessions and your streak, plus how many times you tried to open a blocked site. The 30-day report shows the pattern, which is useful for noticing that every dip in focus is a Thursday.

Add Bonk to Chrome, it's free

Questions

What if I need YouTube for lectures?

Block just Shorts instead of all of YouTube, or add an exception. Exceptions are addresses that stay open even when the site is blocked, they beat your block list and categories, and free Bonk allows up to 10. You add them under More blocking options.

Is Bonk free for students?

Bonk is free for everyone, with no limit on how many sites you block. Pro adds extras like longer hard mode sessions, but you don't need it to study.

Can I block my phone as well?

No. Bonk is a Chrome extension, so it blocks sites in Chrome on the computer where it's installed. Keep your phone in another room.

Can I make the study schedule different on weekends?

Yes. Make a second schedule with the days and times you want. Free Bonk allows three schedules.

Will it block sites during my Pomodoro break?

No. Sites open during a break and close again when the next focus session starts.

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