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All week, we've been highlighting our favorite analog hobbies from film photography to puzzles to gardening and everything in between. Our editors are always looking for opportunities to reduce screen time, which is why the Brick caught our attention. It’s both a physical puck and a digital app that “Bricks” your phone, removing access to some (or all) of your apps until you disable it. But does it really work? And is it better than just using your phone’s screen time features to limit app use? NBC Select staffers put it to the test to find out. Here are a few of our thoughts:
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The longest amount of time my phone was Bricked was eight hours during the workday — probably one of the longest times I’ve ever gone without social media (sadly). And honestly, I loved it. It made meeting certain goals (like going to bed earlier, getting more work done and focusing on my journaling) so much easier. I felt like I wasn’t constantly reaching for my phone or wasting time on locked apps. -Mili Godio, updates editor
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I Bricked my phone for three hours and 13 minutes while cooking, and it was glorious. Although I didn’t use any of the fancier features, I Bricked every social and messaging app on my phone, and for three hours I did nothing but cook dinner with “The Sopranos” playing in the background. It felt great to not pause for texting or notifications and just focus on what was in front of me. -Ashley Morris, associate seo reporter
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I wanted to test out the Brick because my screen time has been historically high recently. I normally work and read in my bedroom, so I put the Brick on my fridge in the kitchen, which is at the opposite end of my apartment. It made me realize that I have a muscle memory when it comes to picking up my phone and clicking on certain apps, and as time went on, I started reaching for my phone less and less. -Caitlin Cusack, associate social media editor
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this newsletter are those of the NBC Select editorial staff's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. |
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