There’s a new idea that’s been floating around lately regarding productivity and dealing with the distractions of owing a device that is quite good at doing so. It’s called Brick Mode.

Thomas Sobal outlines the whys and the hows of this approach to “significantly improve” one’s life.

When my phone is in Brick™ Mode and I’m completely disconnected from the internet (at dinner with a friend, on a hike, or reading a book) anyone who texts me will get an automatic reply saying that I’m off my phone and I’ll get back to them when I’ve reconnected. This simple auto-reply relieves my “always on” pressure because I know that anyone who texts knows I haven’t seen the message yet.

It’s a smart approach. It might even mesh well with Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism.