One of my most annoyingly persistent habits is reaching for my phone the second I wake up. Yes, yes, I know it’s bad for me (at least I’m self-aware), but, like most of us, my phone also doubles as my morning alarm. The second I turn it off (read: hit snooze), I’m already knee-deep in unread texts, Taylor Swift album theories, or whatever Labubu meme my friend sent me at midnight the night before. It’s not exactly the kind of morning ritual Gwyneth would endorse. Ideally, I’d spend the first few minutes of my morning basking in 10 seconds of sunlight like some enlightened morning person, but more often than not, I’m struggling to keep my social media diet in check. The truth is, from the early morning hours until I tuck in for bed, the algorithm keeps me coming back for more.
If you’re sitting here reading this instead of doomscrolling, look at you go, miss blueprint of mindful habits. But if you’re also here because you’re realizing it might be time to reclaim your productivity with a little more intention, I am too. So when I came across a new app—one that promises to keep you accountable and actually present when you want to be—I was intrigued. But it’s not just another app you download on your phone, exactly. The most interesting part is the handy 3D-printed square magnet that works alongside the app. One that essentially blocks any other app you want, when you want—along with its notifications. Enter: The Brick.
The Brick
Break free from distractions, stay present, and create balance with The Brick. This tiny gadget and its corresponding app allows you to distance yourself from the apps and websites that keep your head in your phone so you can finally live your life and stay focused—no battery, no charging, no monthly cost required.
What exactly is the Brick?
Brick’s whole premise is simple: turn your phone back into, well, a phone—or a basic “brick,” phone, if you will. The goal is to put some actual distance between you and the apps and websites that distract you most, especially during the moments when being present in whatever you’re doing feels impossible—whether that’s trying to focus on a work project, visiting with family, or touching grass without feeling tempted to also touch Instagram. As explained by influencer Jaci Marie Smith (or “Brick’s biggest fan”), it is “the next best thing to having a flip phone.”
Essentially, the Brick is a small, 3D-printed magnetic square—about the size of a charger block—that you can leave behind on your nightstand, desk, refrigerator, dashboard, or wherever you want. The moment you walk away from it, its corresponding app switches your phone into distraction-free mode and won’t unlock until you return it to the physical block. The Brick is ironically and weirdly symbolic, too—the fact that you would need a physical tool to remind you to be physically present.
The Brick makes you pause and consider whether unlocking your phone is actually worth it, in that moment. Because honestly, with most other app blockers, when I am already on my phone, it feels so easy to cave and hit that “disable” button. But what’s nice about the Brick is that it forces a more physical step: you actually have to get up and unlock the block. That little extra effort makes you think twice about unlocking your distractions—keeping the usage of them more intentional.
How does the Brick work?
Thankfully, the Brick and its corresponding app are very easy to set up and navigate. All you need to do is purchase the physical Brick block, download the app, set up your preferences, and feel the glue between you and your phone start to dissipate—happily. Here’s a more detailed step-by-step explanation:
1. Select distractions to block
Whether it’s Instagram Reels that steal your mornings like mine, TikTok scrolling, or Pinterest outfits—pick the apps and websites that eat up most of your time. The Brick app lets you set up custom modes for different parts of your day—work, family time, study sessions, and more—so you can group specific distractions to block during each one. You can also do this in reverse—choose the apps you want to keep accessible, and everything else will be blocked.
2. Connect your phone to your Brick block
Once you’ve selected the different modes that work best for you, simply tap your phone against the physical Brick to activate it, and it will start blocking those apps. As soon as your phone becomes “bricked,” a timer starts on your home screen to let you know how long you’ve been in “focus mode” for. One Brick also works for multiple iPhones—so you and your partner or your roommate can use the same block if you want to make better habits a shared experience. (Yes, it unfortunately only works for iPhones—sorry, Android users).
3. Get more connected by disconnecting
Now it’s up to you. Place your Brick somewhere that actually helps you step away so you can be more present with the people and projects that matter to you. Go take a walk, laugh over dinner with friends, or finally tackle that work project you’ve been putting off—all without the constant pull of notifications haunting you.
With the apps that usually hijack your attention temporarily blocked, your home screens can also feel calmer and less cluttered too—nudging you to use your phone for what actually matters without getting sucked into a scroll spiral. Then, when you’re ready to return to your apps, you can do it on your terms, in a way that feels deliberate, grounded, and way less doom-scrolly.
How much does the Brick cost?
Ok, of course, anything this good comes with a little bit of a catch. The Brick costs $59, which is not the cheapest option out there when it comes to focus apps, but the physical element attached to it does make the price seem intriguingly worth it in comparison to its peers. Plus, this price is only a one-time purchase as opposed to a subscription, which is arguably nicer, too.
Is the Brick worth it?
How you view the cost of the Brick really depends on how you choose to budget for personal items that support your wellbeing. For me personally, I look at the Brick like a self-care tool, similar to how I view a gym class or a new skincare product. At the same time, it’s worth acknowledging that you’re essentially paying for something to help you with your self-control—so if price is a sticking point, it may not be worth it to you.
At the end of the day, it comes down to how much time you think you could get back if you really prioritized it. What would happen if you set boundaries on your social media? What do you want to be more present for instead? One reviewer shared that they “Brick themselves out” of their phone for 2-3 hours once a day during the hours they need to be the most productive and focused. In addition to this, they shared that they use the Brick on the weekends to be more present with their family—and it’s been a game-changer in both scenarios.
While the Brick hasn’t been around very long, the hype around the product and its trending reviews and testimonials are promising in comparison to other focus app subscriptions. If you’re constantly draining your phone battery by mid-day because you can’t get your nose out of your social feeds or you want to be more present at work or in life, I’d say it’s worth a shot.
Madigan Will, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Madigan writes and edits content for every topic under the digital media sun. As the oldest of four siblings, she enjoys utilizing her big sister persona to connect and inspire readers—helping them discover new ways to maximize their everyday.
Feature graphic images credited to: Ayla Mourtada | Dupe, dlyastokiv | Adobe Stock, Brick
The post Everyone’s Talking About the “Brick”—Here’s How It’s Helping People Focus appeared first on The Everygirl.
Source: Cosmo Politian
