Shelf Life
Park links for later — with an expiry. When they’re due, one honest decision: Open, +7 days, or Release. An anti-Pocket ritual you can make your start page.
Park a link
Tip: Ctrl+V anywhere parks the clipboard URL instantly (7 days, no note). Stays on this device. Use Export → Share link or Note for other phones.
Aging shelf
How do you stop a guilt reading list?
What this tool does
Shelf Life is an honest read-it-later. You park a URL with a shelf life (3, 7, or 14 days). When the due date arrives, the honesty ritual asks one question at a time: open it, snooze a week, Keep it with no expiry (for links you actually reuse), or release it forever.
Why you need it
Pocket-style apps reward hoarding. Tabs and “read later” folders become silent debt. Shelf Life flips the incentive: keeping is temporary; deciding is the product. The calm “You’re clear for today” screen is the reward — strong enough to be a daily start page.
How to use it
- Paste a URL, optional note, pick a shelf life, tap Park.
- When items are due, click the card to open the link, then choose +7 days, Keep (when offered), or Release.
- Watch the aging shelf — older and nearer-due items look heavier. Kept links sit in their own section.
- Check stats: due, on shelf, kept, and hours you stopped pretending.
- Use Export (Note / Share link / PDF / JSON) and Import to move the shelf.
Practical examples
- Slack rabbit hole: Park the thread with a 3-day life — release if the project moved on.
- Weekend deep dive: 7-day park; if still due Monday, open or admit it.
- Wishlist link: 14 days; release if the urge passed.
- Morning start page: Open Shelf Life first — clear ritual or clear day.
How it works
Each active item stores parkedAt and dueAt. The ritual queue is every non-kept active item with dueAt ≤ now, oldest due first. Snooze pushes due forward by seven days. Keep pins the link with no expiry until you Unkeep. Release marks the item inactive. Export can copy a WhatsApp-style note, a share URL (hash), a PDF, or JSON. Everything also persists in localStorage.
Common mistakes
- Endless +7: Snooze is a bridge. If you reopen it often, tap Keep instead.
- Keeping everything: Keep is for true references — not a second Pocket.
- Parking without a why: A one-line note makes Release easier later.
- Expecting live multi-phone sync: Re-share the link or Export a note after changes — no server.
FAQ
How is Shelf Life different from Pocket?
Pocket optimizes for keeping. Shelf Life optimizes for honest release with due dates and a daily ritual.
Is my reading list uploaded?
No. localStorage only — Export Note, Share link, PDF, or JSON to move devices.
What does Release mean?
You admit you will not read it; it leaves the active shelf and counts in monthly stats.
What does Keep mean?
No more due date. Keep may appear when reuse shows up in your opens or snoozes — or choose “Keep · no expiry” when parking. It is not a score to chase. Unkeep puts the link back on a 7-day shelf life.
What does +7 days do?
Snoozes the honesty check one week. Prefer Keep if you need it ongoing.
Can I use this as my browser start page?
Yes — bookmark it for the daily ritual or the calm clear screen.
How do I share with another phone?
Export → Share link (or Note for WhatsApp). Re-export after changes — it is a snapshot, not live sync.