I am OVER my phone. Or rather, I guess I’m over my phone addiction. And I really hate to admit it… and I’d love to pretend like I’m not, but I absolutely am addicted to my phone. I’m sure people have it worse, but that doesn’t change the fact that I am addicted to mine to whatever degree. My phone is a critical part of my life– it’s essential for my job, of course, and I obviously need (and want) it just as an adult in society.
I enjoy scrolling on TikTok (to an extent) and I like Instagram (to an extent). I love my NY Times Games and Puzzles that I do every morning. I use my phone for the baby monitor and for the security cameras around our house and to control the garage door opener and Apple Pay so I don’t have to bring my wallet everywhere. I’m not anti-smartphone.
However… I need better boundaries and the phone and these damn apps are designed to keep you scrolling for just one more video. The notification pop ups when your favorite writer publishes another newsletter. Your manager dings your Slack. Your spouse reminds you to grab milk on the way home. The school sends notifications about which playground they’ll be at during pick up.
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One of my fave podcasters started talking about “bricking her phone.” I’ve seen the ads everywhere for Brick– a little square magnet that allegedly blocks you out of your phone. But it felt a little gimmicky and I also didn’t fully understand how it worked. She kept raving about it though, week after week, and then I had a moment where I truly wanted to run my phone over and I ordered one. Actually I ordered two and it’s been one of the best investments I’ve made for my mental health.
Is it going to cure my phone addiction? Probably not. But it’s making me so much more intentional about my phone use. The first day that I used it, I am mortified to admit that I lasted under 30 seconds before I tried to open Instagram. While I was walking up the stairs. It was a habit I didn’t even realize I had. I was going to scroll Instagram while WALKING UP THE STAIRS. I don’t care that Instagram and answering DMs and keeping up with comments is part of my job. Checking an app for a quick dopamine hit while walking up STAIRS is insanity. I knew immediately when the app popped up and said “go back to living” that this was going to be beneficial.
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WHAT IS THE BRICK?
The Brick is a little device that physically blocks you from distracting apps (of your choosing) on your phone.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
I don’t know the exact ~tech~ behind it, but basically you select what apps you want to block and then you tap your phone to the Brick device and you’re blocked out of the apps. The only way to open the apps again is to physically tap your phone to the device again to “unbrick.”
WHAT DOES IT BLOCK?
I had a misconception that the Brick locked you out of everything on your phone, which I didn’t really understand the point. (Why not just put your phone in a drawer at that point.) But it actually allows you to pick and choose what apps you block and when. You kind of create these “recipes” of different groups of apps. So you could have a group of apps you want to block while you’re at work and another grouping while you’re playing with your kids and another group to block when you’re sleeping. I love how you can tailor the app and the Brick to best benefit me.
HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE?
I bought two. I had one in my cart and then it gave a pop up about how two is better than one and I did realize that maybe having a back up for work emergencies wasn’t the worst idea. So my main Brick is on our refrigerator and then I have another one buried in my glove box in my car. Because the only way to open a blocked app is by physically touching a Brick device, I am keeping that one in my car in case my phone is bricked and I have to do something for work. I’ve had it for a couple of months and have only used it to actually Brick my phone while I was out and about running errands– I’ve never needed it for emergencies!
I think it’s worth mentioning something I discovered once I bought one– anyone can use it! So if you have friends over and they have the Brick app, they can use your Brick to brick their phone. You and your roommates or spouse can share one. A teacher could get one for a classroom. Your office could set them up for employees to use if they want, etc. It’s nice that anyone can tap it!
WELL CAN’T I JUST ADD TIME LIMITS ON MY PHONE?
Yes. If that works for you, great. But if you’re finding yourself overriding the limits, maybe it’s not actually working for you. Also, you might be okay with 30 minutes of TikTok scrolling a day, but you could still use those minutes inappropriately (like pulling up the app while you’re playing with your kids). The Brick adds an additional layer of intentionality. There’s no override. It’s locked.
I have seen videos on TikTok about how you can basically make your own brick with RFID stickers… so if you’re trying to be thrifty, that could be an option.
I know I’m not the only person who wants to have a better relationship and more control over my phone use. The Brick is such a great tool. I am loving it. Over my Christmas break, when I wasn’t really working, I had my phone Bricked for over a day. It was amazing. On a more everyday basis, I’m just finding myself looking forward to Bricking my phone. My screen time is down a lot and it has helped my anxiety around work a lot. Now I don’t feel pressured to read and answer DMs 24/7– I get to my DMs when I have my phone intentionally unlocked.