I minimize my display time in half utilizing Brick

I spend approach an excessive amount of time looking at screens. After I get up, I attain for my cellphone first. Along with the eight hours a day I spend typing away at my pc, my cellphone is at all times there, tempting me to open it and scroll by way of Instagram somewhat than getting my work executed. After I’m unwinding with a TV present within the night, my cellphone is there once more, pulling my consideration away from the display. And earlier than falling asleep, I am as soon as once more scrolling by way of TikTok once I could possibly be studying.

I am not notably happy with my display time numbers or my must be always stimulated. I’ve created deadlines on my most distracting apps and set designated downtime schedules. However actually, it nonetheless hasn’t been sufficient — getting round these limits is as simple as hitting the snooze button.

Mockingly, as I attempted to decrease my display time, I used to be focused with Instagram adverts for The Brick, which guarantees stricter display time controls to really curb my cellphone utilization. After testing the Brick for a number of months, I am thrilled to say that it helped curb my display time — reducing it in half — and eventually taught me to be bored once more.

How does The Brick work?

Display screen time administration apps may be nice for guaranteeing you solely spend a sure period of time on social media a day, however there is a large concern — they’re simple to bypass. Utilizing my iPhone’s built-in app limits, I shortly fell into the behavior of sneaking in yet another minute of TikTok, which then grew to become one other hour. Brick can be an app, nevertheless it provides a bodily part, too, which takes away the straightforward bypass.

The Brick works by locking sure apps if you faucet your cellphone to the Brick. To unlock your cellphone, you must faucet it towards the Brick once more. Nevertheless, when you’re in a pinch and really want to entry your blocked apps with out getting as much as faucet your cellphone, the Brick app has 5 emergency un-Bricks obtainable in complete. A phrase of warning, although, as soon as you’ve got used up these emergency un-Bricks, you must manufacturing facility reset your machine to make them obtainable once more, so use them sparingly.

Beforehand, the Brick was solely obtainable on iOS units; nonetheless, it is now additionally obtainable on Android smartphones. A number of units can be utilized per Brick, too. My spouse and I exploit the identical Brick, conserving it on our fridge for straightforward entry.

It is the one factor to really get my display time down

I maintain The Brick on our fridge, forcing me to get off the bed or off the sofa if I need to un-Brick my cellphone.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Having the bodily part of the Brick implies that if you wish to entry your blocked apps, you’ll be able to’t simply press a button. You need to rise up and go to your Brick to faucet your cellphone.

And let me inform you, that small bodily component makes a world of distinction. After I’m lounging on the sofa within the night and need to scroll by way of Instagram, despite the fact that I am already watching a present, realizing I might should rise up to un-Brick my cellphone is sufficient to deter me from scrolling. My favourite use of Bricking my cellphone is earlier than mattress, because it ensures social media is not the very first thing I see once I get up and forces me to get off the bed if I do need to take a look at it.

Plus, the Brick has given me my consideration again. After I Brick my cellphone, it takes away the distraction so I am not watching my cellphone once I ought to be watching TV. However the Brick is even nice once I’m not making an attempt to give attention to one thing else. With all my most distracting apps blocked, I am lastly bored once more. When I’ve some downtime, somewhat than defaulting to scrolling, it motivates me to spend extra time studying or lastly deal with these errands I have been laying aside.

It minimize my display time in half

So what was the results of my utilizing the Brick? It minimize my display time in half.

One of the best ways to quantify the effectiveness of the Brick is thru numbers. Earlier than utilizing the Brick, I used to be averaging about six hours of cellphone display time a day. I did not got down to restrict my display time by a sure quantity or proportion; I simply needed it to be much less. So I used to be shocked when utilizing the Brick minimize my display time right down to a mean of three hours a day. Yup, a complete 50 p.c much less.

Moreover, my complete family has adopted the Brick to restrict display time. I earn a living from home, so I’ve to train a bit of self-discipline when I haven’t got in-person coworkers round. However even my spouse, who teaches day-after-day, Bricks their cellphone earlier than heading to highschool each morning.

You’ll be able to create completely different modes

All of the completely different modes I’ve created for Bricking my cellphone.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Bricking your cellphone is not an all-or-nothing resolution. The default setting lets you block all apps — together with your texts and video calls — making it primarily a dumb cellphone that solely lets you make normal cellphone calls. Nevertheless, that is not your solely choice. You’ll be able to create completely different modes, hand-selecting which apps to permit or which to dam.

I’ve created some modes that make my cellphone just like a dumb cellphone — besides I do permit for video calls and texts. Nevertheless, different modes I’ve created simply block the apps which are my largest distractions: Instagram, TikTok, X, Pinterest, and even Chrome. I even have a lightweight model of this, which helps me keep distraction-free throughout work however nonetheless permits me entry to Chrome in case I have to look one thing up.

Watch out about what apps you choose

My solely phrase of warning relating to the Brick is to examine which apps get blocked. If you choose the choice to dam all apps, that may find yourself stopping you entry to apps that you just may really need. One time, I Bricked my cellphone earlier than heading to the health club, solely to appreciate that it was blocking my health club’s app, which has my membership card. One other time, my Brick was blocking the Amazon app, which I wanted to scan at Entire Meals to get further financial savings.

Fortunately, that is the place Brick’s emergency un-Bricking characteristic helps. Sadly, I’ve already used up two of the allotted 5.

I want it set app limits

You’ll be able to even maintain observe of how a lot time you’ve got spent in Brick mode on the exercise tab.
Credit score: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

One factor I do like about Apple’s built-in display time is that you may set app limits. Sadly, you’ll be able to’t set app limits with Brick. As a substitute, you simply block all apps to try to in the reduction of in your total display time. Whereas I shortly tailored to Brick’s system, I sometimes missed the app limits that will give me a cue that it was time to ditch social media for the night.

It is a bit of an funding

Going from utilizing a free display time characteristic on my iPhone to paying $59 for The Brick is a bit of robust to abdomen. That being stated, it actually works. It is the one system that is been capable of successfully lower my display time. Plus, it is a one-time worth to pay.

Different fashionable display time apps, like Opal, have free variations, however to entry all options, you will have to pay $99.99 per 12 months.

Is the Brick value it?

The Brick is completely value it. I have been raving about The Brick for months, ever since I began utilizing it and recommending it to everybody I do know. For those who’ve been on the lookout for a system to cut back your display time and have discovered that inbuilt app limits aren’t sufficient, the Brick is my favourite choice.

The bodily limitation of the Brick provides an additional barrier, making it particularly efficient at stopping you from overriding your display time and staying actually distraction-free.