A profile instead of willpower: how AZ-Way Lock keeps focus on iPhone, iPad and Mac

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In short

I don’t try to “spend less time on my phone” through willpower. I built a configuration profile in Apple Configurator that removes entertainment from my iPhone, iPad and Mac and makes bringing it back expensive. Count what’s inside, and the main thing becomes clear: 44 % of the blocked sites and 31 % of the blocked apps are not the content itself, but workarounds to reach it. After installing the profile, the phone reason almost disappeared from az-log: 4 cases out of 5 on the first day and 1 out of 24 over the next eight.

Why a profile and not willpower

In the post az-log I described how the very first row of the spreadsheet showed that I had missed or delayed four of five prayers because of my phone. The conclusion wasn’t “try harder” but “change the conditions”.

az-log: one row a day and the profile that locked my phone

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In short

az-log is a Google spreadsheet where one row is one day and the columns are split into four areas: faith, health, family and income. On the very first day the spreadsheet showed that I had missed all five prayers, and for four of them the reason was the same: my phone. After that I put a profile on my iPhone and iPad with Apple Configurator that removes entertainment apps and sites and can’t be removed.

Where the spreadsheet came from

My goals for the year are written in my notes, in four areas. The problem was that by the end of the month I couldn’t honestly say whether I had met them. There was a feeling of “seems fine”, and a feeling proves nothing.

Faith on AZ-Way

A profile instead of willpower: how AZ-Way Lock keeps focus on iPhone, iPad and Mac

Why a profile and not willpower

az-log: one row a day and the profile that locked my phone

Where the spreadsheet came from