The Gadget That Fixed My 8-Hour Screen Time Habit

About this episode

If you've ever looked at your phone's screen-time report and wondered where the day went, you're not alone. Many people want to stop mindlessly scrolling, but find it challenging to stop. Some Wirecutter staffers have found a solution: The Brick, a physical device that locks you out of the apps you choose.   This episode, Wirecutter senior staff writer Elissa Sanci shares why the Brick worked for her when other approaches didn't. She explains how putting physical distance between herself and her distracting apps helped break the doom-scrolling cycle, how using scheduled "bricking" can protect your workday and mornings, and how families and roommates can share the same device.   This episode covers:  • Why the Brick works so well. Elissa found that built-in screen-time limits and apps like Opal were too easy to bypass, while the Brick forced her to physically get up and retrieve the device before she could resume scrolling. • How scheduled bricking protects your time. You can set profiles that automatically block distracting apps during certain hours, including blocking social media before your alarm even goes off so you're not tempted to start the day scrolling. • H