Quick answer: Install NGUMU from your browser's store, pick a timer mode (Pomodoro is a good start), add a blocklist or preset, and start a session. NGUMU blocks your distracting sites, limits tabs, warns you to rest your eyes, enforces a full-screen break and records your progress.
This guide walks through every part of NGUMU: Screen Time Control so you can go from "always distracted" to a steady, repeatable focus routine.
Step 1: Install NGUMU
NGUMU is available on:
- Google Chrome — Chrome Web Store
- Microsoft Edge — Edge Add-ons
- Brave — install from the Chrome Web Store; Brave supports Chrome extensions
- Mozilla Firefox — Firefox Add-ons
- Opera — coming soon
Click Add, confirm, then pin NGUMU to your toolbar so the popup is one click away.
Step 2: Choose your focus rhythm
Open the popup and pick a mode:
| Mode | Focus | Break | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pomodoro | 25 min | 5 min | Getting started, tasks you avoid |
| 52-17 | 52 min | 17 min | Steady office work |
| 90-20 | 90 min | 20 min | Deep, creative work |
| 20-20-20 | — | 20 s every 20 min | Eye comfort during long screen days |
| Custom | Your choice | Your choice | Your own routine |
Tip: match the mode to the task
Use Pomodoro for admin and studying, and 90-20 for writing, coding or design.
Step 3: Set up website blocking
Blocklist
Add the sites that pull you away — for example social networks, video sites or news.
Allowlist
For deep work, switch to allowlist mode: only the sites you list will open during focus.
Curated presets
Not sure where to start? Turn on a preset for social media, video platforms or news portals.
Keep it realistic
Start with your top three distractions. You can always add more.
Step 4: Start a focus session
Press start. During the session NGUMU:
- blocks sites based on your rules
- limits distracting tabs with tab management
- tracks the time in the background
Step 5: Rest your eyes with the blink warning
Shortly before each break, a blink warning overlay reminds you to rest your eyes. It's a small habit that helps reduce eye strain over a long day.
Step 6: Take a real break
When focus ends, a full-screen break overlay appears. It's designed to make it hard to return to work early, so you actually stand up, stretch, drink water or look outside.
Step 7: Review your progress
Open the dashboard to see:
- total focus time
- number of sessions
- progress towards daily and weekly goals
- long-term trends
Use it weekly to adjust: if you keep stopping sessions early, shorten them; if you finish easily, try a longer mode.
Extra settings worth turning on
- Dark mode for evening work and less glare
- Language — NGUMU supports multiple languages
- Pro — advanced analytics, extended timers and detailed blocklist controls
Your first week plan
- Days 1–2: Pomodoro, social media preset, four sessions a day.
- Days 3–4: Add your personal distractions to the blocklist.
- Days 5–6: Try 52-17 for your main work block.
- Day 7: Review the dashboard and set a weekly goal.
Privacy
NGUMU doesn't collect personal data for core features; session data stays in your browser's local storage.
Get started
Install NGUMU free on Chrome · Edge · Brave · Firefox and start your first focus session today. Want to understand why this works? Read the science behind focus, or compare tools in NGUMU vs StayFocusd.
