Unblock Delay

Unblock delays create friction between requesting access and receiving it, helping resist impulsive decisions.

Concept

When you try to unblock a domain with a delay configured:

1. Request: You run unblock domain.com
2. Queue: A pending action is created
3. Wait: The delay period passes
4. Execute: Domain is unblocked automatically

During the wait, you can cancel if the urge passes.

Configuration

Set in config.json for each domain:

{
  "blocklist": [
    {
      "domain": "reddit.com",
      "unblock_delay": "30m"
    }
  ]
}

Valid Values

Common Presets

Value	Delay	Use Case
"0"	Instant	Low-risk sites
"30m"	30 minutes	Moderate friction
"4h"	4 hours	High friction
"24h"	24 hours	Maximum friction
"never"	Cannot unblock	Harmful content

Flexible Duration Format

You can use any duration with these formats:

Format	Examples	Description
{n}m	"15m", "45m", "90m"	Minutes
{n}h	"1h", "2h", "8h", "12h"	Hours
{n}d	"1d", "2d", "7d"	Days

Examples of valid custom delays:

{
  "blocklist": [
    {
      "domain": "quick-check.com",
      "unblock_delay": "15m"
    },
    {
      "domain": "gaming-site.com",
      "unblock_delay": "90m"
    },
    {
      "domain": "streaming.com",
      "unblock_delay": "2h"
    },
    {
      "domain": "dating-app.com",
      "unblock_delay": "2d"
    },
    {
      "domain": "weekly-reset.com",
      "unblock_delay": "7d"
    }
  ]
}

Behavior by Value

Instant ("0")

nextdns-blocker unblock reddit.com

Output:

Unblocking reddit.com...
✓ reddit.com unblocked

Immediate access, no delay.

Timed Delays ("30m", "4h", "24h")

nextdns-blocker unblock bumble.com

Output:

Unblock scheduled for 'bumble.com'
Delay: 24h
Execute at: 2024-01-16 14:30:00
ID: pnd_20240115_143000_a1b2c3

Use 'pending list' to view or 'pending cancel <ID>' to abort

Protected ("never")

nextdns-blocker unblock gambling-site.com

Output:

✗ Cannot unblock 'gambling-site.com'
  This domain is protected (unblock_delay: never)

No way to manually unblock.

Why Use Delays?

Research Background

Studies show that cravings typically:

• Peak within minutes
• Fade significantly after 20-30 minutes
• Often disappear entirely after a few hours

Friction Creates Space

The delay:

1. Interrupts autopilot - You can’t access impulsively
2. Creates reflection time - Do you really need this?
3. Allows cancellation - Changed your mind? Cancel it
4. Reduces regret - Deliberate choices feel better

Recommended Settings

By Content Type

Content	Recommended	Reasoning
Social media	"30m"	Quick impulse control
Gaming platforms	"4h"	Longer to resist gaming sessions
Streaming	"30m" to "4h"	Depends on addiction level
Dating apps	"4h" to "24h"	High impulse, high regret
Gambling	"never"	No legitimate need
Adult content	"never"	Harmful, no exceptions

By Risk Level

Risk	Delay	Description
Low	"0"	Useful but not problematic
Moderate	"30m"	Sometimes problematic
High	"4h"	Often problematic
Very High	"24h"	Frequently problematic
Maximum	"never"	Always problematic

Managing Pending Actions

List Pending

nextdns-blocker pending list

View Details

nextdns-blocker pending show <ID>

Cancel

nextdns-blocker pending cancel <ID>

See pending command for details.

Examples

Productivity Setup

{
  "blocklist": [
    {
      "domain": "reddit.com",
      "description": "Social media - moderate friction",
      "unblock_delay": "30m",
      "schedule": {...}
    },
    {
      "domain": "twitter.com",
      "description": "News - low friction",
      "unblock_delay": "0",
      "schedule": {...}
    },
    {
      "domain": "youtube.com",
      "description": "Streaming - high friction",
      "unblock_delay": "4h",
      "schedule": {...}
    }
  ]
}

Recovery Setup

{
  "blocklist": [
    {
      "domain": "gambling-site.com",
      "description": "Protected - no access",
      "unblock_delay": "never",
      "schedule": null
    },
    {
      "domain": "casino.com",
      "description": "Protected - no access",
      "unblock_delay": "never",
      "schedule": null
    },
    {
      "domain": "dating-app.com",
      "description": "Maximum friction",
      "unblock_delay": "24h",
      "schedule": null
    }
  ]
}

Parental Control

{
  "blocklist": [
    {
      "domain": "social-media.com",
      "description": "Child account - parental approval needed",
      "unblock_delay": "never",
      "schedule": {...}
    },
    {
      "domain": "gaming-site.com",
      "description": "Gaming - must wait",
      "unblock_delay": "4h",
      "schedule": {...}
    }
  ]
}

Delays and Schedules

Unblock delay and schedule are independent:

• Schedule: Automatic access during certain hours
• Delay: Friction for manual unblocking

Example:

{
  "domain": "reddit.com",
  "unblock_delay": "30m",
  "schedule": {
    "available_hours": [
      {"days": ["saturday"], "time_ranges": [{"start": "10:00", "end": "22:00"}]}
    ]
  }
}

• Saturday 10am-10pm: Auto-unblocked by schedule
• Other times: Manual unblock requires 30-minute wait

Delays and Panic Mode

During panic mode:

• All domains blocked regardless of delay
• unblock command hidden
• Pending actions paused (not executed)
• After panic: Pending actions resume

Bypass Considerations

Legitimate Bypasses

Some situations may need immediate access:

• Emergency requiring blocked information
• Work necessity during blocked time
• Schedule misconfiguration

Options:

1. Edit config to temporarily reduce delay
2. Wait for delay (as designed)
3. Add domain to allowlist temporarily

Preventing Abuse

To make bypass harder:

1. Use "never" for harmful content
2. Don’t keep delay settings memorized
3. Consider using panic mode when vulnerable

Troubleshooting

Pending action not executing

1. Check watchdog is running:

   nextdns-blocker watchdog status

2. Check panic mode:

   nextdns-blocker panic status

3. Force sync:

   nextdns-blocker config push

Changed my mind but can’t cancel

If action already executed:

• Re-block via schedule (wait for next sync)
• Or use nextdns-blocker config push to re-apply rules

Need to change delay for domain

Edit configuration:

nextdns-blocker config edit
# Change unblock_delay value
# Save and exit

Changes affect future unblock requests, not existing pending actions.