A Saskatchewan entrepreneur with Lloydminster area roots is hoping to help people spend less time mindlessly scrolling on their phones with a new app built around a simple idea: taking a break before diving back in.
Rhonda Lavoie, a Saskatoon realtor and parent, created Paced, a smartphone app designed to interrupt habitual scrolling without completely blocking users from their favourite apps.
Taking a break
Unlike many app blockers that lock users out entirely, Paced allows users to access selected apps for a 30-minute session. Once that session ends, a 60-minute cooldown begins before users can start another session.
Users can shorten the waiting period by walking, with every 100 steps reducing the cooldown by three minutes. The cycle then repeats throughout the day, creating what the company describes as a rhythm of “session, wait, session, wait” intended to make screen use a conscious choice rather than a habit.
Lavoie said the concept grew out of her own struggles with screen fatigue. In January 2025, she asked members of her Facebook network what they thought of an app that would encourage users to take a break while rewarding physical activity. The idea gained traction and eventually became Paced.
App launched
The app launched on Android on Feb. 13, which was Lavoie’s 50th birthday. An iOS version followed in August.
Paced is available as a freemium app with no advertising. Users can protect one app for free, while the paid version costs $9.99 per month or $49.99 annually.
According to company figures, 76 people used the app between Oct. 2 and Nov. 1, 2026, including 56 Android users and 20 iOS users. The company also reports that roughly three-quarters of its weekly Android users open the app on a typical day.
Paced’s tagline is “Your time, your pace,” reflecting its goal of helping users develop healthier relationships with their devices without relying on punishment or strict restrictions.
