Introducing "Listen to Nature" — our latest speed bump

Listen to 60 seconds of calming nature sounds before unblocking your apps.

Choose from six pre-recorded tracks, provided in partnership with sound recordist Nick McMahan.

Pausing to listen to nature sounds will help you think twice before you scroll.
This is part of our "Speed Bumps" series—moments of pause before opening apps.

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Here’s how it works:

• You block an app like Instagram or TikTok.
• When you try to open it, you need to select a nature sound and listen to it.
• Enjoy the beauty of nature for a minute
• Then — and only then — can you unblock

That brief pause is often enough to change your mind. You might still scroll—and that’s okay. But other times, you’ll put the phone down instead.

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A quick story

If you've followed our journey you may know that Roots started as a nature-based mindfulness app.

So we've officially gone full circle :)

We launched with beautiful nature sound recordings and guided meditation, then decided to pivot. We realized the most pressing problem was the phone in our pocket—keeping us from nature, from being present, and over-stimulating our brains 24/7.

Our mission is to help you be more intentional about how you use technology—so you can be more present, and live a happier and healthier life.  

We're excited to bring nature back into our digital detox toolkit.

Thanks for being part of the journey.

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More coming soon

We’re experimenting with other forms of gentle friction—each one designed to help you pause with purpose. Stay tuned.

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Try listening to nature in the latest Roots update

Download Roots

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