Everything we've learned building a tool to help people study without burning out — written for anyone trying to reclaim their attention.
I've installed almost every app blocker that exists. Every single one worked for about two weeks. Here's why blocking alone always runs out, and what finally made it stick for me.
Opal, Forest, and Icarus all block your apps. I've used all three. Here's the actual difference — and why blocking alone stopped being enough for me within a week.
productivityI used to think I procrastinated because I was bad at planning. I was wrong — procrastination is an emotion problem wearing a productivity costume. Here's what actually changed it for me.
The students who do well on AP exams in May aren't cramming in April — they built a review system back in August. Here's the system I wish I'd had in high school, before I ever built Icarus.
Every ADHD study guide says the same thing: just focus. Here's what I learned talking to ADHD students and mining hundreds of Opal/Forest reviews while building Icarus.
study tipsRereading your notes feels productive but barely works. Spaced repetition is the technique that actually changed how I retain material for BME and CS exams — here's how to use it.
digital wellbeingYou don't need to delete every app or buy a flip phone to fix a phone addiction problem. Here's the practical, non-extreme version I actually use as a Duke student.
productivityBurnout isn't caused by working hard — it's caused by working without a system. Here's what actually helped me keep up with a BME/CS double major without running myself into the ground.
study tips25 minutes on, 5 minutes off sounds great until it doesn't fit how your brain actually works. Here's why Pomodoro failed for me specifically, and what I built instead.
focusPhone addiction doesn't just steal time — it rewires your attention span. Here's what I learned about my own brain building Icarus, and how I got deep focus back.