5 tech splurges that are 100% worth it (and on sale, thankfully)
You might think around $50 is a lot to spend on inner peace, but Brick is one of the few phone restriction devices that actually works. If you are over-reliant on your phone and it’s causing you to be less productive and present, the Brick could be a helpful solution. Brick is a gray square with NFC tech underneath. Before using, you download the Brick app, select the apps you’d like to restrict, and then tap the Brick, effectively blocking yourself from using those apps. To unblock your list of apps, you have to tap the Brick again. I keep the Brick far away in the kitchen, so I have to walk there to untap it. I’ve gotten into the habit of Bricking my phone before bed and before I start work. In both cases, I spend less time dilly-dallying on my phone and more time performing the task at hand — whether that’s reading a book and winding down hours before I would’ve if I spent my night scrolling, or churning out articles without distraction while on the clock. Also: I curbed my phone addiction with this unexpected deviceThe Brick has reminded me that incessant phone checking is killing my focus — and it is, frankly, unnecessary. These tech companies have convinced us that things are constantly happening around us that we must be present to observe instantaneously, that we’re always seconds away from receiving an important text or call. Bricking my phone for several hours and returning to a notification-free device has reminded me that all those incessant checks aren’t changing my life, they’re ruining it. During Black Friday sales, the Brick is $12 off, slicing the price to $47. More
