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Things I Use: Brick | Putting My Phone to Bed

Posted on October 24, 2026October 24, 2026 by Bug

Anyone else crawl into bed at 8 PM, thinking you’ll scroll Instagram for just a few minutes, and suddenly it’s 11 PM and you’ve accomplished absolutely nothing except watching approximately 400 Reels?

Just me? Didn’t think so.

I’ve learned that sometimes the biggest obstacle to getting a good night’s sleep is the little device sitting on my nightstand. And while I’d love to say I have the self-discipline to simply put my phone down, sometimes I need a little help.

Enter Brick.

A Little Device That Helps Me Disconnect

Brick is a physical device that helps you set boundaries with your phone by blocking access to distracting apps. You choose which apps to restrict, activate your Brick session, and those tempting little distractions become unavailable until you physically tap your phone against the device to unlock them.

It’s basically a way to put a little friction between you and your bad scrolling habits.

And apparently, that’s exactly what I needed.

Protecting My Bedtime (and My Brain)

I primarily use Brick to keep my bedtime boundaries intact. When it’s time to wind down, my “fun” apps are off-limits. No Instagram Reels rabbit holes, no mindless scrolling, and no accidentally sacrificing three hours of sleep because the algorithm knows me a little too well.

But one of my favorite unexpected benefits has been what happens when I wake up in the middle of the night.

Instead of grabbing my phone and getting sucked into something entertaining (which inevitably wakes my brain up even more), those apps are already restricted. Without the temptation to scroll, I’ve found it much easier to settle back down and fall asleep.

It’s a simple change, but it’s made a noticeable difference in how I protect my sleep and give my brain a break from constant stimulation.

Sometimes Willpower Needs a Little Backup

What I love most about Brick is that it doesn’t require me to suddenly become a person with incredible self-control. It just helps me create an environment where the better choice is the easier one.

And honestly, I’m all for that.

There are plenty of ways to manage screen time, but I’ve found that having a physical device that makes me intentionally choose to unlock those distractions works better for me than relying on willpower alone.

If you’ve ever lost an entire evening to your phone or found yourself scrolling when you should be sleeping, Brick might be worth checking out.

Because sometimes the best thing you can do for your brain is give it a little less to look at.

Want to try Brick? You can get 10% off your purchase using my link below:

Get 10% Off Brick with My Link

Affiliate disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through my link, I may earn a commission or receive another benefit. You’ll receive 10% off your purchase when using my link.

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Glad you're here! I’m Sarah, I share what’s helped me simplify, feel better, and live with intention.

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