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I was recently at a party with a friend when I noticed something interesting. During our conversation, one of those awkward pauses occurred and neither of us continued the conversation. Right then, my friend, who had his phone in his hand, promptly opened up Instagram, scrolled for 5 seconds, then put his phone away. I don’t think he even processed anything on the app, but that reaction was so impulsive that it left me curious as to why he did that.

That wasn’t the first time I’ve experienced something of that nature from someone I’ve interacted with. In the modern world, grabbing people’s attention has never been more powerful, with various compelling factors in every direction. Gen Z is accredited with an 8-second attention span, and I understand why.

The attention economy is begging us for our eyes and ears, and regulating our focus is increasingly becoming a challenge. While productivity apps aimed at optimizing "output" are gaining popularity, how do we master the "input" that influences our thoughts?

This is where One Sec comes in.

What is One Sec?

One Sec is a productivity app that utilizes the power of psychological intervention to decrease screen time. It’s centered around giving you, the user, autonomy over your attention. One Sec allows you to take a second to evaluate whether you want to open apps like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, etc.

By creating automation flows in the Shortcuts app, One Sec uses an interruption technique to let their users decide if they intentionally want to open a respective app or if it’s a reflexive action. Let’s dive into some of the key features.

Key Features

1. Intervention - One Sec’s primary feature → Upon opening a distracting app (like Instagram), One Sec will present the user with a mindfulness exercise and ask them if they really want to open the app. An option to state the intention of opening an app may be enabled.

2. Focus Sessions - One Sec will block you from opening ANY of your configured apps during a Focus Session, allowing you to minimize distractions and truly get some work done.

3. Analytics - One Sec displays a user’s data through metrics such as app open rates and potential time saved from not opening apps.

4. Suggestions - A tab featuring tips and tricks for smarter phone usage and tutorials to learn about One Sec features.

Note: The free version includes only the Intervention feature for one app, while the $19.99/year PRO version offers full access to the above feature suite and more.

My One-Sec Experience

As someone who falls prey to the reflexive nature of opening social media apps due to boredom, I’ve had fantastic results with the One Sec app. The psychological intervention technique forces me to think before I act on instinctive habits.

Ironically, while writing this review, I made 3 attempts to open YouTube and 5 more for TikTok. One Sec, however, single-handedly caused those attempts to remain attempts and didn’t lead to half-hour wormholes on videos asking people what they do for a living.

In fact, the simple act of taking a moment to breathe when I expect to see my “For You” page made me realize that I don’t actually need to open the app. This fantastic feature allowed me to push my bedtime from something like 2:30 AM to 2:00 AM, giving me an extra 30 minutes of low-quality sleep.

Moreover, Focus Sessions are an excellent way to drive the progression of tasks without the constant interruption of opening apps on my phone. This is basically a “Get Shit Done” option for people (like me) who have impulsive reactions. By locking myself in a focus session, not only did I restrict myself from opening the apps, but I also felt like I mentally entered a much more productive state.

Honestly, discovering how many attempts are made to open an app in a given day or week is shocking. It definitely makes me cognizant of how distracted I can be. Additionally, One Sec reminds me of other activities I could be doing instead of checking an app, like hitting the gym or going for a walk.

However, I will say that setting up the initial automation flows for the intervention feature could be more seamless as it required following a tutorial to get things going. But hey, I am Gen Z and I do have an 8-second attention span, so maybe that’s the problem?

But Why One-Sec?

While our attention span dwindles away with every passing day, One Sec steps in with a brilliant, calming fix. It helps filter the constant stream of information coming at us, giving us a moment to center our thoughts and retain some autonomy over everything we interact with.

As productivity apps have effectively streamlined workflows to enhance our output, One Sec presents a distinct and contrasting approach to addressing the complexities of the human condition.

I believe that One Sec is still in its early stages with tons of potential for growth! Countless plugins and integrations can be harnessed by the app to not only reduce distractions but also elevate workflow efficiency.

Amidst growing distractions, One Sec has the potential to evolve into a strong productivity app, similar to MyFitnessPal for focus.