I remember the time we first met! You had done a high school project to test your friend’s addiction to Instagram, and I saw a YouTube video about it. So clear you belonged here!
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Hi everyone, so nice to be here!
I’m Clo, founder of This Too Shall Grow and digital wellness coach!
Pro: My background is in tech, as a UX researcher & UX designer. I created This Too Shall Grow to teach designers how to build products that are more mindful of users’ wellbeing & mental health, and to help people build healthier relationships with their devices.
Work setup: From my lovely flat in Berlin!
I use Opal to: Make sure I don’t get side-tracked when I’m working
My schedules: 9-5, Mon-Fri
Dreams: A tech industry that doesn’t damage people’s attention and wellbeing, or our democracies. Being strong enough to do a human flag. Getting way better at painting!
Opal: I discovered Opal on Twitter, because I was following a team member!
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Hello Opal community members.
This is my first time coming here. I came across Opal late night night when i was reading a Techcrunch article.
I am in Seattle. I was looking into options other than parental controls. So here i am. Hoping to learn more about Opal this weekend.
Congratulations.
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Welcome here! how did you first experience with the app go?
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Sorry Kenneth. I did not download the app yet. It seems that everywhere we go, someone wants us to download their app.
I am trying to limit my use of tech and Apps for my own sanity. Ha !
But seriously, i will get around to it.
Thank you Kenneth for taking on this brave challenge.
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Hi! My name is Rachel. I am in Nashville TN. I am a singer/songwriter but I am currently out of the game overcoming some health issues. With no structure in my life, I desperately need Opal to help me out of my screentime addiction 
Screentime was legit like 8 hours yesterday, so bad. Today Christine helped me get set up so I hope it helps!
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Hello Gems! My name is Vikki and I reside in Rhode Island and, I work from home. I am using Opal to stay on task during work hours in hopes that I will complete my work during work hours.
I hope that will lead to better work-life balance.
I am looking forward to interacting with my fellow Gems! 
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Rachel, welcome! We’re rooting for you. Please share your songs when you can!
Vikki, it’s great to meet you! Hoping the work hours are more focused and productive since you started with Opal. Can’t wait to have your feedback.
Hello 
First time user.
Username: Tomatobloodstone9902
Testing out new apps and games.
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Welcome! happy to have you here
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Hi everyone! New here
Pro: I have just graduated from a business school and I am currently working as a freelance for 1 year, as for personal reasons I want to be have a very flexible calendar! I’m working for early stage startups on different fields (marketing, growth, product…) or helping SMB to digitize their business. I have worked in a community-driven startup before so I’m happy to be part of a new community now 
Work Setup : I work from coworking spaces mostly. I can also meet clients in-person when needed.
I Use Opal to: reduce my screentime, avoid getting distracted or just taking my phone because I have nothing to do so I automatically have a look at my notifications. I have tried a lot of things to reduce it (Apple screen limits, new concentration mode - feature that I find very nice btw, other apps to limit the screen time…)
My Schedules: working 4 days a week, office hours. Now that I am with Opal I’m blocking social media on office hours. Home hours are the most difficult to stay away from phone sollicitations, such as sleep timings.
Dreams: Not being too black & white on screen usage. Understanding how to manage it well for them to be powerful to you.
Opal: I discovered Opal over a conversation. I was sceptical about another app that would help me to manage my screentime. But for the very few days I’ve been using it, I might admit I’m happy to have tested it, it has already helped me a lot!
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Welcome here Eleana and thank you for sharing!
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Hey all, I’m Doug
Pro: I’m a Video Producer for a start-up called CraftDocs. I’m also a documentary film-maker with a focus on environmental storytelling.
Work Setup: I work between a studio in Edinburgh and our HQ in Budapest 
I use Opal to: make sure my ADHD doesn’t get the better of me.
My Schedules: Between being a new dad to a 5 month old, I’m online 7am-3pm GMT
Dreams: Good tech that helps people experience this world better
Opal: Stumbled across it while scrolling social-media after having a chat with my partner about how we could focus better on the quiet time we have at home together.
Looks like an amazing team at Opal keep it up!
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welcome here Doug! and thank you for already contributing with two great posts - I’m also a dad of a 2 year old (and soon to be a second one), and it’s a struggle to find balance. Looking forward to exchanging here about what works/doesn’t work.
Thanks Kenneth, really enjoying what you guys are making. So far it’s that perfect little block when I feel the urge to check something online, let’s me get on with work and get home quickly. Good luck with number 2!
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Pro: Before Opal, I trained as a professional dancer & taught dance for 16+ years. In the past few years I moved towards a career in social media and entrepreneurship; now I’m a craft distillery owner and freelance content creator.
- Work setup: working from home most of the time until my distillery business is open and producing. Then 30/70 split.
- I use Opal too: avoid distracting apps when I’m trying to work. I have adhd so I’m hoping this will help.
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My Schedules: I’m an entrepreneur close to opening day: right now I just work and sleep
ideally I’d like to work office/content mon-sat 10-2, distillery production/front of house mon-sat 3-10 and Sundays off. When I can hire people I can cut my hours 
- Dreams: I want to give people a safe welcoming place to hang out and learn how to live a happy healthy life where alcohol is a treat not a necessity. I also want to empower locals to train in a new field and get into entrepreneurship themselves.
- Opal: I saw Opal on an IG ad
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Hi everyone,
This is Harsh from Dubai 
, a productivity geek. I like to discover productivity apps that help me manage my time effectively, so that I could focus on important aspects of life such as learning, family and new experiences.
- Pro: I started my journey with ShoutMeLoud back in 2008, and for many years it was the biggest blog in my niche . It helped numerous individuals around the globe to become their own boss with the help of blogging. In 2016, I added another project called “CoinSutra” focusing on Blockchain and Fin-tech. Both of them are still going strong. I have a very lean structure and I’m firm believer of “Quality over quantity”.
- Work setup: I work from Home, and often work from cafes. I spend around 6-8 hours/day creating new content, investing, and learning new adventures on the internet.
- I use Opal to: 3 years back I was speaking on a Radio show where I introduced a concept called “Nomo Phobia”, and I understand the impact of high mobile phone usage. Like it or not, phones are addictive (Apps are designed by some of the smartest people on this planet for your attention), and it is not going to slow down. Opal sounds like an app I have been looking forward to. As much as I wish to avoid using my phone based on my will-power, it often does not work. Opal seems like a perfect solution for someone like me, who enjoys tinkering with various app but at the same time understand the damage it can cause to your overall health.
- My Schedules: I’m my own boss, so everyday is weekday and everyday is weekend. I usually work from 10-2 PM, and then from 7-9PM. I use Opal to block all the apps @ my work time and allows only whitelisted apps.
- Dreams: I wish to live a peaceful life, where I add value to the people’s lives with my learnings. I wish to help people with education because education is one thing that could truly help increase awareness, and one educated child could change the lives of 100 families.
- Opal: From Twitter reply.
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Hi there!
I’m Marjolaine, joining Opal as Creative Partnerships Manager 
More about me:
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Pro: Before Opal, for more than two years I helped build Sleeq, the leading French agency for marketing on TikTok. I have a creative, commercial and analytical mind, and I love the world of communication.
I am so excited to be joining Opal and I feel like we are going to do great things together! - Work setup: hybrid from remote and in-office
- I use Opal to: better focus during my work
- My Schedules: Work Monday-Friday 9am-6pm, blocking social media and news.
- Dreams: I want to help people reconnect with life and be passionate about something that brings them joy!
- Opal: I discovered Opal when searching for a new professional adventure!
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