pourquoi.app
What is an intention-based approach?
An intention-based approach creates a short pause of awareness when you open an app, so you can name why you are opening it.
It is not a blocker: you stay free. It is not laissez-faire either: light friction turns a reflex into a choice.
pourquoi.app applies this idea on iPhone: a question when you open apps you choose, simple answers, stats without scores or guilt.
How it works
In practice, three simple moves:
A question at open
You pick the apps. When you open them, a calm question appears: why now?
Name your intention
A short answer is enough. Saying what you came to do interrupts autopilot.
See what changes
Your answers and stats show where non-intentional time goes, without badges or rankings.
Intention, blockers, and Screen Time
Three different logics. They can coexist.
| Blocker | Screen Time | Intention | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Principle | Cut access | Limit duration or apps | Pause before opening |
| Strength | Stops the reflex cold | Native, easy to turn on | You stay free and aware |
| Limit | Frustration, workarounds | Often bypassed “just this once” | Needs a second of attention |
| Measure | Time blocked | Minutes / categories | Chosen vs non-intentional time |
Who it is for
- You have already turned off a blocker more than once.
- You need to stay reachable (messages, 2FA, work).
- You want to understand your habits, not only forbid them.
- Guilt after use speaks to you more than prohibition before.
Less relevant if
- you keep Screen Time limits without bypassing them for weeks;
- you need a short, hard cutoff (exam, detox);
- you mainly want a technical lock, not a pause of awareness.
Frequently asked questions
Is an intention-based approach just doing nothing?
No. It is light friction at open: naming why you open. No lock, but not laissez-faire either.
Does it replace Screen Time?
No. Screen Time remains useful for native limits. Intention questions the opening. Both can coexist.
Can you combine a blocker and intention?
Yes. For example limits in the evening and a question at open during the day. The key is avoiding guilt when you bypass a rule that is too rigid.
How does pourquoi.app embody this approach?
The app asks a question when you open chosen apps, records simple answers, and shows calm stats. Free on iPhone after a 7-day trial. No blocker, no gamification.
Go further
Try it on iPhone
pourquoi.app is free. A second of pause can change your day.