The piece focuses on creating greater focus using a natural product known as Brick (get 10% off!). The link is an affiliate link, but I really like the product and they didn’t pay for this piece. If you don’t have or don’t want to get one, the tips here are mostly applicable to software.
If you’ve ever sat down to work (or write, study, clean, or rest) and somehow ended up 40 minutes deep into scrolling, you’re not broke. You are human in a world of constant vacation. And there’s a real mental health cost to living in constant mode: broken attention, lower concentration, more stress, worse sleep, and the nagging feeling that you can’t be present even when you want to.
There are many ways to deal with this problem. One of them is Brick (get 10% off!). It’s based on a surprisingly simple idea: to distract a little harder to access, so focus becomes your default.
The Science of Distraction: Why “Just Ignore It” Doesn’t Work
Think distraction doesn’t affect you? Check the science.
1. Notifications steal attention—even if you’re not picking up your phone
Research has found that Receiving a notification alone can disrupt performance on attention-demanding taskseven when people No interaction with the phone.
This matters because many of us believe that distraction only “counts” if we open the app, but that turns out not to be true. Even when you’re not touching your phone, a notification interrupts your focus.
2. Task switching has a real cognitive cost
When you bounce between tasks, your brain pays an alternating “tax.” Classic experimental work on task switching shows measurable cost in speed and performance as your brain reorients itself to a new set of rules/goals.
The American Psychological Association also sums this up: Multitasking and frequent task switching can reduce efficiency and increase errors because attention is limited and switching takes time.
As you go about your day, you might experience something like this: starting a task, getting interrupted, going back and re-reading, losing your train of thought, and feeling mentally exhausted more quickly.
3. Even the presence of your phone can use up your mental bandwidth
A widely cited document try the idea of ​​brain drain: having your smartphone nearby (even face down, even on silent) can reduce available cognitive capacity for demanding tasks compared to having it further away.
Translation: if your phone is nearby, part of your mind can stay “on call.”
What is brick (and why is it different)
Brick is a physical device (get 10% off!) that works with an app to temporarily remove distracting apps and their notifications from your phone. You choose which apps (or websites) to block, select a “mode” (like Work, Study, Family Time), then touch your phone to the Brick to activate the Brick mode. Then you place the brick somewhere far away so that unblocking requires you to go back and hit again.
This one design choice – the physical separation – creates friction. And friction is powerful because it breaks the autopilot loop.
Why friction helps focus (and why willpower alone is unreliable)
Yes, you can use software to try to minimize notifications and app usage, but many built-in tools (Screen Time, Digital Wellbeing) fail for one reason: the bypass button is always there.
The whole point of Brick is to design behavior:
- Make a distraction less direct.
- Make it the “unlock” moment. intentional.
- Take the easiest way, the one you take they really want to.
It’s not about shame. It’s about recognizing that attention is a finite resource, and modern apps are optimized to capture it.
How brick supports focus, concentration and mental health
Getting rid of distractions helps you focus, be present and work, which, in turn, supports your mental health.
1. Reduces micro-breaks (which add up quickly)
By blocking selected apps and their notifications, Brick helps reduce the attention-splitting “constant ping” environment.
2. Protects deep work (and makes it easier to start)
Getting started is often the hardest part, not because you’re lazy, but because Your brain tries to avoid the discomfort and grab something easier. A little “starting step” gets you over that starting hump, and a little physical friction makes the distraction less automatic and more intentional.
3. Makes the instance the default
A lot of mental health isn’t about adding more habits. it’s about removing the friction that keeps you from the basics:
- Unbroken sleep routines (crucial for bipolar disorder)
- Meals without scrolling
- Conversations without half attention
- Completing a task (which reduces stress and creates a sense of accomplishment; this can fight depression)
The brick isn’t a cure for any disease, of course, but it can reduce an all-too-common cause of stress and cognitive overload: incessant digital interruption.
A simple brick design that you can copy today
Do you have a brick? Try using it like this.
Step 1: Create a function that fits your real life.
Brick lets you choose apps you want to block (or keep accessible) and create multiple modes (Work, Study, Family Time, etc.).
Start with focus mode:
- Block social news + news + games
- Keep: basics (maps, music, phone, messages if needed)
Step 2: Use a “distance rule”.
After tapping to activate, place the Brick somewhere that requires effort to reach, such as:
- A coat closet
- The kitchen drawer
- In the console of the car
- On a shelf that you can’t reach from your desk
The brick is designed to do just that: put it away so that disengagement becomes a conscious decision.
Step 3: Plan your focus blocks.
Try programming your Brick:
- 45–90 minutes of focus
- 10 minute break (deliberately unscrew if you want)
- Repeat
Brick also tracks focus time with a timer once you’re “on fire”. You may find it motivating to increase this number.
Step 4: Create “emergency” flexibility (so you don’t rebel).
Brick includes emergency unzips in the app for those times you really need access. This matters because overly rigid systems tend to break. Usually sustainable change is needed some flexibility.
What to Expect Emotionally (Because It’s Real)
If you use your phone to cope with stress, loneliness, or overstimulation, removing instant access can feel awkward at first. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong. It often means you finally notice what scrolling has been helping you avoid.
If you feel uncomfortable, try exchanging something small and relaxing, such as:
- A short walk
- Making tea
- Calendar for three minutes
- Enable “reset” playlist.
- Message a person (intentionally)
The goal is not perfection. The goal is intention and choice.
Bottom line
Distraction is not a character flaw. It is the predictable result:
- Attention-grabbing notifications
- Task switching costs
- A phone that quietly captures your mind just by being around
- Platforms designed to keep you engaged
Brick’s (get 10% off!) The strategy is refreshingly straightforward: block out distractions of your choosing and make disengagement intentional using a physical device.
More focus. More presence. Less mental noise. A win for mental health.
