I couldn’t stop opening the same sites, so I built something that blocks me before I even get there

I’ve been trying to cut down my time online, but I kept running into the same problem.

It wasn’t just scrolling — it was the automatic stuff. Opening a new tab, typing the same sites, checking things I didn’t even really want to check anymore.

It felt like muscle memory at that point.

What I realized is that most blockers only work after you’re already on the site… and by then, you’ve already lost that moment of control.

So I built a Chrome extension called Stop Stalking – Break the Habit that works a bit differently.

Instead of blocking after the page loads, it detects keywords in search bars and URLs and stops you before you even get there.

It basically creates a pause right at that split second when the impulse kicks in.

I originally made it to stop checking someone’s profile, but it ended up being useful for general “nosurf” habits too:

• avoiding specific sites or topics
• breaking the habit of opening things automatically
• being more intentional online

There’s also an optional mode that detects keywords directly on the page for dynamic content.

Everything runs locally — nothing is tracked or sent anywhere.

It’s not a perfect solution, but it helped me become more aware of those automatic behaviors.

Curious if anyone else here struggles more with the automatic opening part rather than just scrolling.

If anyone wants to try it:
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/stop-stalking-%E2%80%93-break-the/macgkninbkcebjhokbdnpdbdkiloljag