How planting a virtual tree can stop you doom-scrolling and help you actually get stuff done
Let’s be honest: your phone isn’t just a phone. It’s your alarm clock, your camera, your weather forecaster, your group chat organiser, your meme portal, and your go-to source of pointless but oddly gripping rabbit holes. And while all that sounds useful (ish), it’s also one of the biggest reasons your to-do list is now a wish list.
Enter Flora. It’s a simple app with one job: stop you from picking up your phone when you’re supposed to be working, studying, or actually doing the thing you promised yourself you’d do two days ago.
Here’s how it works. You set a focus session—say 25, 45, or 90 minutes—and during that time, a little virtual plant starts to grow. If you leave the app to check social media, text your mate, or see if anyone has posted a better banana bread recipe, your tree dies. Yep. Dead tree. Brown, wilted, and a visual reminder that you couldn’t make it through a single half-hour without checking WhatsApp.
That tiny bit of guilt? It works. Suddenly, “just one peek” at your phone has consequences. And because your brain likes growing things and hates killing innocent trees, you’re more likely to stay focused.
Now before you roll your eyes and say, “Really? An app with cartoon trees?”—hear me out. Flora isn’t just about pretty graphics. It’s built on real behavioural psychology. You get immediate visual feedback (tree = success, dead tree = nope), built-in timers to structure your sessions, and even the option to plant real trees through Flora’s partnership with environmental charities. So if you focus, you not only grow a virtual forest—you can help grow an actual one too.
Let’s break it down a bit.
You vs. Your Phone
You tell yourself you’ll just check the time. Then your finger accidentally opens Instagram. And while you’re there, you might as well reply to that meme your mate sent. Twenty minutes vanish. You’ve done nothing. You feel a bit rubbish. Repeat tomorrow.
This is where Flora steps in. It gives you a visual reason not to touch your phone. That little tree becomes a stand-in for your focus. When it’s growing, so is your progress.
You’d be surprised how motivating it is to see your “garden” fill up with trees. One for every task you finished. One for every hour you actually stayed focused. And because you can name each tree, you get a mini record of your achievements. “Blog Post.” “Revision Session.” “Finally Did My Tax Return.”
It’s surprisingly satisfying.
Real Humans, Real Pressure
You can also invite friends to a focus session. For the tree to grow, everyone must stay off their phones. If one person caves, everyone’s tree dies.
Brutal? A little. Effective? Very.
It’s group accountability with pixel leaves. Suddenly, you’re not just doing it for you—you’re doing it so your mate Sophie doesn’t have to watch her tree wither because you got distracted by a cat video.
From Study to Side Hustle
Whether you’re revising, writing a proposal, sorting your inbox, or tackling that huge project you keep avoiding, Flora creates structure. You stop guessing how long to work and start setting clear focus windows.
It’s a bit like setting office hours for yourself—but without the bad lighting and the broken kettle.
Students use it for revision blocks. Writers use it for drafting sessions. Freelancers use it to break big projects into manageable chunks. And because it’s built for real people, it’s flexible. You can start small—try 25 minutes with a five-minute break. Or go big with 90-minute sprints if you’re in the zone.
Why It Works (No Buzzwords, Promise)
Flora works because it simplifies everything. You don’t need to make a big plan. You just open the app and press “Start.” It gives you a reason to begin and a reason to keep going. There’s no complicated onboarding, no weird features you’ll never use, and no pressure to be perfect.
It’s not a productivity cult. It’s a tool. It helps you notice your distractions and stay on track long enough to finish something.
And when your brain says, “Let’s just have a quick look at the news,” Flora gently reminds you: “You’re growing something. Let it grow.”
Build the Habit
Like anything else, using Flora only works if you actually use it. That’s where the habit comes in. Try making it part of your daily routine. Pick one or two focus sessions to start your morning. Or set one up after lunch when you usually feel sluggish.
Over time, your brain links “open Flora” with “time to focus.” You condition yourself to start. And once you’ve started, finishing becomes easier.
That’s what we talk about in Stop Putting It Off! How To Work When You’d Rather Watch Cat Videos—how small shifts in behaviour can lead to big changes in output. Flora is just one of the tools we explore. It’s simple, playful, and built for brains that wander. Sound familiar?
Try It This Week
Download the Flora app. Try one 25-minute session. Set a goal. Keep your phone out of reach. Watch the little tree grow.
When it’s done, reward yourself. A biscuit. A break. A quick walk. You earned it.
And if you like what Flora helps you do, you’ll love the full book. Stop Putting It Off! is packed with strategies like this—stuff that works, even when you’d rather reorganise your fridge or deep-clean the skirting boards than face your tasks.
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Because staying focused doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes it just takes a tree.