Your First Week With Paced: 3 Steps to Prepare for Success

Welcome to Paced! You’re on the waitlist, and the beta launch is just around the corner. We're incredibly excited for you to start finding a better balance with technology.

Our mission is to help you build a healthier, more intentional relationship with your phone. Paced is designed to be a supportive coach, and like any good coaching program, success starts with a little preparation. To help you hit the ground running, here are three simple steps you can take before you even install the app.

Step 1: Identify Your Core Distractions

The first instinct for many people is to try and block every social media app they have. However, this "all or nothing" approach often leads to frustration. The most effective strategy is to start small.

Take a look at your phone usage. Ask yourself: which 1, 2, or 3 specific apps cause the most "mindless scrolling" or leave you feeling drained? Is it TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, or a news feed?

By focusing only on your biggest time sinks, you set yourself up for an achievable win. (Remember, the free version of Paced is designed to manage a core group of up to 3 apps ).

Step 2: Define Your "Break" Goal

Paced creates breaks in your day by design. The "Paced Cycle" gives you dedicated time away from distracting apps. But what will you do with that time?

Having a plan, even a small one, dramatically increases your chances of success. Instead of just staring at the wall during a cooldown, decide on a positive replacement activity. A powerful technique for making your new activity stick is called habit stacking, where you link your new desired behavior directly to a current habit you already do every day.

• Want to read more? Place a book where you usually scroll.

• Want to move more? Plan to use the cooldown time for a quick walk (which also shortens the timer ).

• Want to be more present? Commit to playing with your pet or talking with family.

Step 3: Embrace Intentional Friction

When you first start, your muscle memory will fight back. You'll likely hit a cooldown and feel an urge to override it. Paced includes features like Intentional Friction to make you pause before you do.

Be ready for this feeling and don't get discouraged. The goal isn't to be perfect from day one. The goal is to build awareness. Every time you pause and choose not to override the cooldown, you strengthen a new habit.

By taking these three simple preparatory steps, you'll be ready to get the most value out of Paced from the very first session.