WillStone: Balance Screen Time

Have you ever felt this way:
"I spend too much time on social media, mindlessly scrolling through my phone"
"I want to limit my phone usage, but I keep removing the limits after apps get locked"
"Why can't I control myself?"
"How did it get to 2 AM when I was just browsing for a bit..."

WillStone is an app designed to help you gradually reduce phone usage. Instead of implementing strict daily screen time limits like other digital wellbeing apps, we've designed a unique time exchange system:

Entertainment apps have limited usage time, but you can earn more screen time through focused activities and positive apps (such as learning, exercising, walking, meditation, building habits, early bedtime, etc.).

We help you put down your phone progressively while building healthy habits!

【Design Philosophy】
- Immediate satisfaction drives motivation: A 1898 study by Thorndike showed that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences tend to be repeated, while those leading to unpleasant outcomes are less likely to recur. James Clear's "Atomic Habits" also mentions the four-step habit model—cue, craving, response, and reward.
- Cold turkey approaches are hard to maintain: We've tried many screen control apps like Opal, ClearSpace and Apple Screen Time. Often, these get uninstalled after 3 days—just like quitting any addictive substance, going cold turkey rarely works.
- The key to painlessly building good habits is: balancing desires with personal growth.

【How It Works】
- First, set up two categories of apps:
- Apps you want to limit, such as Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, shopping apps, etc. We'll call these "entertainment apps."
- Apps that help you grow, like reading apps, Duolingo, vocabulary builders, etc. After setup, grant WillStone screen time access permissions to begin.
- Initially, you get 10 minutes daily for entertainment apps: Once you exceed this, a full-screen notification appears with no "remind me later" option.
- Want more entertainment time? Use positive apps to earn additional screen time. Read books, learn vocabulary, and you can continue browsing. You can also earn time by walking or exercising.

【Use Cases】
We offer multiple ways to earn time:
- Focus Mode: For exam prep, vacation study, evening reading/drawing—use our offline timer. During focus sessions, only selected apps remain accessible, helping you concentrate. Earn entertainment time as a reward.
- Reading, Vocabulary, Language Learning: Add learning apps to your positive apps list—we'll automatically track usage and reward proportional entertainment time.
- Early Bedtime: WillStone reminds you when it's bedtime and locks entertainment apps. Maintaining healthy sleep patterns earns bonus entertainment minutes the next day, encouraging your brain to embrace better sleep habits.
- Exercise and Walking: WillStone automatically tracks your activity duration (via Apple Health) and rewards entertainment time proportionally. Meditation counts too!
- Daily Habits: Whether it's dr