This Physical Barrier Finally Helped Me Limit My Screen Time

I’ve written before about various software tricks to nudge a smartphone toward dumb-phone territory: stripping the home screen down to essentials, enabling greyscale mode, scheduling downtime windows. I tried all of it, and for a time it worked for me, but only in the way that hiding a bag of chips in a high cabinet works—technically an obstacle, but not really a barrier. One tap to “Ignore Limit,” and I’m back to scrolling.

The problem is that the key to unlock everything is right there in your pocket. Turns out I needed a small device called Brick to physically restrain me create a physical barrier, and I can feel my screen time habits finally change for the better.

The Brick Phone Access Blocker Device – Subscription-Free Phone Lock, Limits Smartphone Access, Reduces Screen Time & Improves Focus – High-Grade Magnet & Anti-Slip Silicone