Using a brick as a physical reminder to disconnect from screens. (Illustrative AI-generated image).
You know the feeling. You pick up your phone to check one thing, and suddenly you are 45 minutes deep into a doomscroll. Your thumb moves on its own. The apps pull you in. You swear you will stop, but somehow you do not.
That was my life. Until I tried the Brick.
The Brick is exactly what it sounds like: a hunk of plastic. It costs $59. It has no batteries, no Bluetooth, no screen. It does one thing: it blocks certain apps on your phone when you tap it. And somehow, it works better than any software I have ever used.
This is not just my story. Mashable ran a similar test and reported that using Brick cut their screen time in half. TechCrunch found the same. The Guardian, Consumer Reports, and The Washington Post all agree that reducing screen time is possible. But they also say that most people need more than willpower alone.
The Brick bridges a weird gap between technology and physical intervention. It is a tool that forces you to be intentional. And in a world where every app is designed to steal your attention, that intentionality might be exactly what you need.
The Problem: Why Phone Addiction Feels Impossible to Break
Let us be honest. Your phone is not a neutral object. It is a slot machine that fits in your pocket. Every notification is a dopamine hit. Every swipe is a small gamble. You never know what you will get, but you keep pulling the lever.
The numbers back this up. Studies show that the average person checks their phone 96 times a day. That is once every 10 minutes, even if you count sleep. And the average screen time? Over 3 hours daily. For many people, it is much higher.
Why is it so hard to stop? Part of the reason is that the apps are designed to keep you hooked. Social media platforms use variable rewards. That means you never know when a like or comment will appear. It is the same mechanism that makes slot machines addictive. Your brain releases a little burst of dopamine each time, and you want another one.
But there is a deeper problem. Most solutions to phone addiction are digital. You use one app to block another app. But that creates a paradox. You are using the very thing you want to escape from to try to escape. It is like trying to quit smoking by lighting a new cigarette.
Psychologists call this the “digital treadmill.” You keep running but you never get anywhere. The tools meant to help you actually reinforce the habit of picking up your phone. You open Screen Time to check how much you used your phone, and then you end up scrolling Instagram because you are already there.
That is where physical blockers come in. They break the cycle by removing the digital interface entirely. You cannot argue with a piece of plastic. You cannot negotiate with it. It just sits there, blocking you, until you choose to stop.
The Brick: A $59 Plastic Solution That Actually Works
So what exactly is the Brick? It is a small device, about the size of a hockey puck, made of solid plastic. You pair it with your smartphone via the Brick app. Then you decide which apps you want to block. Whenever you want to access those apps, you tap the Brick to unlock them. That is it.
The genius of the Brick is that it introduces friction. You cannot just open Instagram impulsively. You have to physically reach for the Brick, tap it, and then go back to the app. That small delay is often enough to break the habit loop. You realize you did not actually need to check anything. You were just bored or anxious.
TechCrunch reported that after struggling with screen time for years, the Brick finally worked for them. The author said they “needed” the physical barrier. Software timers were too easy to ignore. You can just tap “Ignore Limit” and move on. But the Brick forces you to make a conscious choice.
The $59 price tag is actually low compared to other digital wellness tools. Some app-based blockers charge monthly subscriptions. Others require expensive hardware like lockboxes that lock your phone away entirely. The Brick is a one-time purchase. And it does not require charging or maintenance.
Mashable’s Story: How One Writer Slashed Their Screen Time in Half
Mashable ran their own test of the Brick, and the results were dramatic. The writer reported that their screen time dropped by 50% in just one week. That is a huge reduction. And they did not change anything else. They just added the Brick.
How does that work? The writer said that blocking social media apps and news apps made the biggest difference. Those were the time sinks. Without them, the phone became boring. They still used it for calls, texts, maps, and music. But the compulsive checking stopped.
“I was shocked,” the Mashable writer said. “I expected to feel deprived. Instead, I felt relieved. I was spending less time on my phone and more time doing things I actually enjoyed.”
That feeling of relief is common. Many people report that blocking apps feels like lifting a weight off their shoulders. The constant urge to check disappears. You are no longer at the mercy of notifications.
Of course, not everyone will see such dramatic results. The Brick works best for people who are already motivated to cut back but struggle with impulsivity. If you are not committed to the goal, no device can force you. But for the writer, the combination of motivation and friction was powerful.
Broader Strategies: What The Guardian, Consumer Reports, and The Washington Post Suggest
The Brick is not the only way to reduce screen time. Far from it. Experts and journalists have been tackling this problem for years. They offer a range of strategies that work, often alongside physical blockers.
The Guardian published a list of 12 realistic tips to stop doomscrolling. The key ideas include:
- Turn off notifications for non-essential apps. Every ping is a scripted interruption.
- Set app timers for social media. Start with 15 minutes a day and stick to it.
- Delete apps from your home screen but keep them installed. This adds a barrier without full deletion.
- Use grayscale mode on your phone. Without color, apps look less appealing.
- Charge your phone outside the bedroom. Do not let it become your alarm clock.
- Replace phone time with a physical hobby, like reading, walking, or drawing.
Consumer Reports offered 8 simple methods to cut screen time. They emphasized that the goal is not to eliminate phone use, but to make it more intentional. Their suggestions include removing apps that are “time sinks” but not truly useful. They also recommended using the built-in Digital Wellbeing or Screen Time features on your phone. But they warned that these tools require discipline. You have to set them up honestly and not cheat.
The Washington Post took a broader view. They outlined three approaches to kicking the phone habit:
- Tech tools: App limiters, the Brick, screen time settings, and focus modes. These are the first line of defense.
- Mindful habits: Changing your relationship with your phone. Practice noticing when you reach for it out of boredom. Ask yourself what you really need in that moment.
- Digital detoxes: Longer breaks, like a weekend without your phone or a full week off social media. This can reset your brain and break the addiction cycle.
All three sources agree on one thing: there is no magic bullet. What works for one person might not work for another. The key is to experiment and find the combination that fits your life.
Step-by-Step: How to Use Brick Alongside Behavioral Changes
If you want to try the Brick, here is a practical plan that combines the device with expert advice. This is based on what worked for me and what the research suggests.
Step 1: Set up the Brick honestly. Do not block every app right away. That will feel like punishment and you will probably give up. Instead, identify your top three time sinks. For most people, that is TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Block those first.
Step 2: Turn off notifications for everything else. The Brick blocks the apps, but notifications from other apps can still distract you. Go into your phone settings and disable notifications for email, games, news apps, and any other non-essential services. Keep only calls, texts, and calendar alerts.
Step 3: Use grayscale mode. This is a simple trick that Consumer Reports recommends. On both iPhones and Android phones, you can set the display to black and white. It makes apps look less appealing. Color is a powerful attractor. Remove it, and the urge to scroll weakens.
Step 4: Replace phone time with something else. The Brick will create gaps in your day. Do not fill them with another digital activity. Buy a physical book. Go for a walk without headphones. Call a friend instead of texting. The Guardian suggests having a list of offline activities ready so you are not left wondering what to do.
Step 5: Use the Brick intentionally. When you want to check a blocked app, do not tap the Brick automatically. Instead, pause and ask yourself: Do I really need this right now? Will looking at Instagram make me feel better or worse? Often, the answer is “no” and you can move on. The Brick gives you that moment of choice.
Step 6: Track your progress. Use your phone’s built-in screen time tracker to monitor your usage. The goal is not perfection, but reduction. Aim for a 20% decrease in the first week. If you see progress, you will feel motivated to continue.
Common Mistakes: What Not to Do When Trying to Cut Screen Time
Even with a tool like the Brick, people often slip up. Here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Blocking too much too fast. If you block every app including maps, music, and messages, you will hate the Brick. You will feel restricted and annoyed. Instead, be selective. Block only the apps that waste your time. Keep the ones that serve a real purpose.
Mistake 2: Relying on willpower alone. Many people think they can just decide to use their phone less. But willpower is a limited resource. It fades over the course of a day. That is why the Brick works: it removes the need for willpower. Do not try to go cold turkey without support.
Mistake 3: Ignoring the underlying cause. Why do you reach for your phone? Is it boredom? Anxiety? Loneliness? The Brick can block apps, but it cannot solve the root problem. Consider keeping a journal to notice patterns. If you use your phone to avoid uncomfortable feelings, try to sit with those feelings instead. It is hard but worth it.
Mistake 4: Comparing yourself to others. You see influencers or friends who claim to have zero screen time. That is not realistic. The goal is progress, not perfection. If you cut your screen time from 5 hours to 3 hours, that is a win. Celebrate it.
Mistake 5: Giving up after a setback. Everyone has days when they fall back into old habits. That does not mean the Brick failed. It means you are human. Pick up the Brick again and start over. Consistency matters more than perfection.
Bottom Line: Is Brick Worth It? A Simple Guide
Let us be honest. The Brick is not for everyone. If you already have good control over your phone use, you probably do not need it. But if you feel like you are trapped in a cycle of compulsive scrolling, it is worth a try.
Here is a quick guide to help you decide:
Buy the Brick if:
- You have tried app timers and they did not work.
- You find yourself ignoring limits or setting them too high.
- You want a physical reminder that you are in control.
- You are willing to put in the effort to change your habits, not just buy the device.
- You are okay with spending $59 on a piece of plastic.
Do not buy the Brick if:
- You are not ready to change. The Brick cannot make you want to reduce screen time.
- You prefer software-based solutions that integrate with your phone.
- You think one device will fix everything without other changes.
- You are on a tight budget and $59 feels like a lot.
So is it worth it? For many people, yes. The combination of a physical blocker and behavioral changes can produce real results. Mashable cut their screen time in half. TechCrunch stopped struggling. I felt the same relief.
But do not take my word for it. Try it yourself for a week. Block the worst apps. Turn off notifications. Use grayscale. Replace scrolling with something real. You might be surprised at how much lighter you feel.
The Brick is not a magic cure. It is a tool. And like any tool, it only works if you use it. But in a world designed to distract you, sometimes the simplest solution is the best. A $59 hunk of plastic might be exactly what you need to finally put down your phone and look up.
