Apps That Help You Break Free From Doomscrolling and Get Active

Doomscrolling can quickly become a habit, leaving people spending hours scrolling through social media feeds while sitting in one place. Besides increasing screen time, it can affect posture, strain your eyes, and leave you feeling less productive. Fortunately, a growing number of apps are designed to encourage users to get active before they can access distracting apps.

Some apps reward physical activity with screen time, while others block access to social media until users complete fitness goals or even step outside. Here are some of the most notable options.

Digital Carrot

Digital Carrot blocks distracting apps, websites, and games until users complete daily fitness, productivity, or screen-time goals.

The app works with wearables such as the Apple Watch and lets users create personalized goals, including walking a certain number of steps each day. It also supports GPS- and time-based challenges, allowing users to unlock apps only after spending a set amount of time at a specific location, such as completing a workout at the gym.

Digital Carrot is available for iPhone, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux.

MeBeMe

MeBeMe focuses on helping users build healthier habits through small daily challenges.

Instead of locking phone access, the app sends notifications encouraging users to complete activities such as burpees, stretching, warming up for a few minutes, or connecting with other people.

Although it covers a range of wellness goals, its Body category includes challenges designed for runners, cyclists, dancers, and other athletes.

The app is currently free on iOS.

StepBloc

StepBloc restricts access to selected apps until users reach a chosen step goal.

In addition to walking targets, users can require themselves to complete workouts such as push-ups, planks, or squats for a specified period before apps like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or mobile games become available.

The app is free on iOS, with a subscription required for unlimited access.

Steppin

Created by the founder of Kayak, Steppin rewards movement by exchanging physical activity for screen time.

Users can, for example, earn one minute of scrolling for every 100 steps they walk and customize their own activity goals for accessing social media, streaming apps, or games.

Steppin is available for iOS.

TouchGrass

TouchGrass takes a different approach by requiring users to go outside and photograph real grass before they can unlock selected apps.

Using computer vision technology, the app verifies that the photo actually contains grass rather than trees or other plants.

The free version allows users to lock two apps, while paid plans cost $5.99 per month or $49.99 annually for additional app locks.

TouchGrass is available on iOS.

WalkLock

WalkLock connects with Apple Health to block chosen apps until users reach their daily step target.

The app tracks activity using data collected by an iPhone or Apple Watch and includes a lock screen widget that displays daily progress toward unlocking apps.

WalkLock is available for iOS.

Walkly

Walkly offers a similar experience for Android users.

The app locks selected social media, gaming, and other distracting apps until users complete a predetermined number of steps. It continuously tracks walking activity and unlocks apps automatically once the goal has been achieved.

WeWard

WeWard originally rewarded users for walking by giving them in-app currency called Wards, which can be redeemed for cash, gift cards, or charitable donations.

The company has since added a Walking Mode that blocks access to selected apps until users reach customizable step goals. Both the list of locked apps and the activity targets can be adjusted.

WeWard is available on both iOS and Android.