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If you regularly catch yourself mindlessly scrolling through apps on your phone, it’s easy to get caught up and not realize how much time you waste on them. Sometimes having app-blocking controls and time limits can be useful, especially if you don’t want distractions while you complete a task. Plus, excessive screen time can cause eye strain, so limiting app usage will have more than one noticeable benefit.
The Brick is a device shaped like a block, which is meant to function as a locking device on your smartphone. It has an accompanying app that lets you pick the apps you’d like blocked. You can customize if you want them to be blocked during specific times. For example, if you don’t want distractions during work hours or study time. Press the Brick button to activate the lock, and a timer will tell you how long you’ve gone without looking at your phone.
This is ideal if you, your family or friends are looking to curb smartphone use and want to be held accountable. And you can’t cheat with this device because the Brick shows a notification reminding you that the app you blocked is a distraction.
This app is free for Android and iPhone, and it prompts you before allowing access to an app. Some reviewers mention that this app caused them to think twice before opening an app, partly because of the 30-second lag but also because it also asks you why you’re trying to access a specific app. This reminds us how mindlessly we tend to reach for our phones and puts our choices in perspective.
Fans of the ScreenZen app also pointed out how this feature dramatically reduced their screen time, specifically with social media apps. Those with ADHD say having a function like ScreenZen on their phone forced them to focus more on the tasks they need to be doing instead of doomscrolling on social media. It doesn’t hurt that the app is free and runs on any smartphone.
This stainless steel card is similar to the Brick: It’s a device that lets you block specific apps. The Bloom looks like a credit card that’s set up through the app (available through both iOS and Google stores), and it controls your phone preferences. You can customize it to block certain websites and apps or even use a childproof mode to keep your kids from getting into your phone. You can customize a schedule, as well if you prefer not to be tempted to scroll through some apps during work or study hours. Once you select the apps you want to block for a set time limit, you scan the card on the screen to activate it.
The Bloom card is $40, and it’s easy to carry in your wallet if you need it on the go. It doesn’t require any charging. Some reviewers say that this product was life-changing, while others say it made them more productive and they didn’t realize how much time they were wasting on social media apps until they used it.
