I tested the Bloom Card to cut my screen time: It beats Brick on features and price, but it's easier to bypass

Bloom Card pros and cons Pros Better app than Brick.

Easy app scheduling.

Lower price. Cons Continued to block apps after my scheduled time was over.

Breaks defeat the purpose of strictly curbing screen time. View now at Bloom

I'm on track to having spent 16 years of my life glued to my phone screen. That's what Bloom, the latest salve to phone addiction, tells me as I create my account.

16 years. According to my calculations, if I weren't attached to my phone's addictive mechanisms, I could have spent that time running 1,700 marathons, grabbing 2,900 cups worth of coffee with friends, or adding one or two more hours of sleep to my night each night. Instead, I scroll.

And I'm not alone.

Also: The base model Kindle is my secret weapon against doomscrolling - and it's on sale

As phone addiction becomes more widespread -- and as we learn how social media keeps us addicted -- more companies are coming up with solutions. Bloom is one of those companies that, like the popular Brick, developed a tap-able NFC-enabled card that creates a physical boundary between the user and their dopamine-triggering device.

I've been using the Brick since October and have found it to be a straightforward way to remove distractions as I work, leisure, and sleep. But it's not perfect. There are a few bugs, and the app is quite minimalist.

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