So, I bought a [Brick](https://getbrick.app/). This is not an ad or even a full endorsement of the app/system (yet). It is however a status update and what I've found. I have long struggled with the desire to return to a simpler life. Check out [[You don't have a choice]] where I talk about the benefits of commercial breaks. Part of the desire to go back to simple has often been the joke of "when I get a new phone, it's going to be a Razr flip phone." All of my friends make fun of me, I mean I am in the tech field and here I am wanting less tech. Of course, before anyone worries that my friends are being unkind, it's all in jest and they get it. Heck, I think given the opportunity many of them would do the same. Unplug, just for a bit... In many vain attempts to curb my phone usage, I've tried apps like Scrollguard, the built-in Android Digital Wellbeing, and others. The problem that I've always run into is that these systems require "willpower" to follow through and take full advantage. These other apps allowed for "skip session" or "turn off for 15 min" all with the entry of my screen lock password. So, it really was more of just a tiny bit of friction to get to what I was wanting during a bored moment. Here I am writing like it was an addiction over which I had 0 control, and that's not the case, but it felt that way at times. What I recognized that I needed was to have my phone password (used to bypass these settings) be completely unknown to me. Well, as I'm sure you can imagine this really isn't feasible. Until I found Brick... Brick, from the outside looking in, appears to do just that. It's an app that locks things down that can only be turned off with the "password." In this case the password is the NFC string output by the little box that's attached to my coffee storage container. I bricked my phone on Saturday when it came in, tested a few things, unbricked and changed settings, then went right back. Right now, my phone is mostly dumb. I am using my Brick to only allow certain apps, namely phone calls, messaging apps, maps, an eBook reader, and my internet radio app. Yeah, I have a thousand dollar phone running as if it was 2008. It's wonderful. **Benefits** So, real quick let me outline some of the things I've noticed. - I have caught myself grabbing my phone while waiting on the microwave lunch to be done only to find it bricked. So, I went out and moved the trash can back up to the house. - I have always woken up at 6 to get ready for the day and usually I'm waking my boys up at 6:55 straight out of the bathroom. The last few mornings, I'm able to sit in the living room and read a book because I'm ready 20 minutes early. - I'm writing this blog post during a time where I'd normally find myself doing anything but this. Ultimately, it's not for everyone, but it seems to be the solution for me. I'll find more evidence over the coming weeks and maybe make some more posts or update this one with what I find.