The Lock journal
Blog
Field notes on attention, friction, and the two-second tap that replaces willpower. Written by the person who makes Lock. No newsletter, no popup, just an RSS feed.
Latest writing
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How much time does an app blocker actually give back?
Every app blocker promises hours back. Almost none of them measured anything. Here is what the research found, and how to get a number you can actually trust.
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Pomodoro doesn't fail on the timer. It fails on the break
You set the timer, you work, the bell rings, and you pick up the phone. Thirty minutes later the second pomodoro still hasn't started. The failure is in the break.
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Brick alternatives: NFC app blockers compared (Android and iOS, 2026)
The category Brick made famous now has a dozen entries, and the prices range from €0.50 to a yearly subscription. Here is what actually differs between them, with the numbers.
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The 90-second gap: where your attention goes while the AI writes your code
You prompt, the agent runs, and your thumb finds the phone before you decide anything. The micro-wait is the new smoke break. Here is what I did about mine.
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How to block apps on Android with an NFC tag (step by step)
The whole setup takes about ten minutes and a sticker that costs less than a euro. Here is exactly how to do it, plus where to put the tag so it works on you.
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Willpower isn't a feature. Why your screen-time app keeps losing
You don't have a discipline problem. You have a design problem: every limit on your phone comes with an 'Ignore' button. Here is what changes when the key is physical.
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