Love the Idea of One Sec,
But Need More?
One Sec’s breathing delay is a clever concept. But when it depends on buggy iOS Shortcuts, your brain learns to skip it on autopilot, and it can’t help once you’re already scrolling — it’s time for something more complete.
Why People Outgrow One Sec
The breathing pause is a great idea. But users keep running into the same walls.
Relies on Apple Shortcuts — Glitchy and Slow
One Sec depends on iOS Shortcuts automation to intercept app launches. But Shortcuts can be slow to trigger, fail silently, or break after iOS updates — leaving you unprotected exactly when you need the pause most.
Your Brain Adapts and Skips It
After a few days, the breathing exercise becomes muscle memory. Users report blindly tapping through the delay without any mindful pause at all. The same static intervention stops working once your brain adapts.
No Help Once You’re Already Scrolling
One Sec only intervenes when you open an app. Once you’re past the breathing screen and inside Instagram or TikTok, there’s nothing stopping a 45-minute doom scroll. It guards the door but not the room.
Tedious Per-App Manual Setup
Every single app you want to block requires its own Shortcut automation. Adding 5–10 apps means 5–10 separate setup steps. One missed app and your biggest distraction has no friction at all.
How Presence Does It Differently
We took the best idea from One Sec — mindful friction — and built it into something your brain can’t just skip past.
Native Integration, No Shortcuts Required
Presence uses iOS’s native Screen Time and FamilyControls APIs directly — no fragile Shortcuts chain. Blocking is instant, reliable, and survives every iOS update.
Dynamic Friction Your Brain Can’t Ignore
Instead of the same breathing exercise every time, Presence varies its interventions — different prompts, different moments, different intensities. Your brain can’t build autopilot around something that keeps changing.
Holistic Screen Time Tracking
Presence doesn’t just guard the front door. It tracks your full focus and screen time picture — sessions, streaks, daily trends — so you understand your habits, not just individual app opens.
Presence vs One Sec: Side by Side
| Feature | 🌿 Presence | One Sec |
|---|---|---|
| No iOS Shortcuts required | Native FamilyControls API | Depends on Shortcuts automations |
| Dynamic friction | Varied interventions that stay effective | Same static breathing delay every time |
| Holistic screen time stats | Full daily tracking, streaks, trends | Limited to app-open counts |
| Focus timer | Built-in with ambient zen sounds | Not included |
| Setup complexity | Select apps once, done | Manual Shortcut per app |
| Works inside apps | Ongoing session awareness | Only triggers on app open |
| Ambient audio | Brown noise, lo-fi, nature loops | Not included |
| Pricing | Free core + affordable premium | Free for 1 app, ~$50/yr unlimited |
Presence Is For You If...
- ✓You love the idea of a mindful pause but One Sec’s stopped working for you
- ✓You’re frustrated by Shortcuts breaking or triggering slowly
- ✓You want something that tracks your full screen time picture, not just app opens
- ✓You need friction that stays effective as your brain adapts
- ✓You want a focus timer and ambient sounds — not just a breathing exercise
Ready for Friction That Actually Lasts?
Presence is launching soon on iOS. Join the waitlist and get mindful screen time tools that your brain can’t outsmart.