Writer Reclaims Focus with $59 Brick Phone Blocker

A deadline‑driven novelist described a daily cycle of endless app switching that threatened to derail a July 31 deadline. The author’s phone buzzed with group‑chat alerts, news feeds and algorithm‑driven content, pulling attention away from a static Word document. Traditional screen‑time apps failed because a single tap restored access instantly.

The solution arrived as a small plastic puck called Brick. Priced at $59 US, £54 or $120 AUD with postage, the device uses Near Field Communication (NFC) to lock selected apps until the user taps the puck again. A rival product, Locked, sells for $39 US, £32 or $59 AUD, offering a cheaper alternative with the same NFC mechanism.

The writer set the Brick for one‑ to two‑hour blocks each night. When the timer expired, the device prompted a reminder to “have a life” before unlocking. That friction forced a pause between impulse and action, a step missing from software‑only limits. The result was a shift from scrolling to reading, thinking and sitting in silence. The author reports longer, uninterrupted writing sessions and a reduced influence of the platform’s algorithm after 8 pm.

What this case illustrates is the power of physical friction in digital habit formation. By requiring a tangible interaction, the Brick creates a barrier that software cannot bypass with a single tap. The device does not eliminate phone use, but it restores the pause that addiction erodes, allowing users to allocate attention more deliberately. As more creators seek tools beyond app‑based controls, hardware blockers like Brick could see broader adoption, especially among those with strict deadlines.

Watch for new NFC‑based blockers entering the market and for studies measuring their impact on productivity and mental well‑being.