Brick vs. Bloom

Hello, my name is Katie and I'm addicted to my phone. I have no control.

I'm always lurking but rarely posting, liking or commenting… 

I'M SORRY! Of course I've seen your content — it's great. IT'S ME, NOT YOU!

Our parents were right. It is that damn phone, and it's a huge problem.

I've tried EVERYTHING.

• The pinky promise: “Okay, Katie, you have to participate. Post first.” …yeah, no.

• The iPhone features: screen limits and app blockers. HA! Decline. Bypass. Ignore.

• The “Are you SURE?!” folder: I put all my distractions in one folder and moved it OFF my home screen, and yes, I was sure. Sure I still had no impulse control…

  
  

Then I tried the intellectual approach. I got the book, How to Break Up with Your Phone. On audiobook. Because I am WEAK.

Honestly though, I blame the publisher. It shouldn't even be available on a mobile device. A physical copy should arrive by carrier pigeon to gently reintroduce you to the concept of IDLE TIME.

Anyway, I knew I needed to up the ante. Put some money on the line, skin in the game.

So I gave my home's original 1980s phone jacks a job. I got a landline, and ONLY gave the number to my parents.

The plan was go cold turkey — phone in another room all day AND all night. I anticipated going through a brief withdrawal period before achieving inner peace (with the peace of mind that I could still be reached in case of emergency.)

It was fun for a while — the cherry atop my retro home and aesthetic. Until the spammers got my number…

Poor Eleanor (my cat) got spooked every time it rang though. (Same, it didn't take long before I'd restarted scrolling my smart phone waiting for the dumb one to ring sooo I too was easily startled.)

That's when I reallocated my money and moved on to Clearspace. Have you heard of it? It's pretty cool. It works like the iPhone features but better, and you can do challenges where you have to do steps, squats or pushups to unlock your phone. Not that I did those because 10 squats only gets you 3 minutes!??!

I liked it enough, but not enough to pay for ANOTHER DAMN SUBSCRIPTION.

Which brings us to now. 

I'm still in the market for another solution. And I'm still willing to pay. ONCE.

Luckily, I'm chronically online so I didn't have to Google my options. They showed up! Advertisers LOVE my addiction — thanks algorithm!

You've heard of these options too, don't be shy. (Read: Don't tell me I'm the only one with a real problem here…)

Brick vs. Bloom.

I watched a few comparison videos but NO ONE talks about the names themselves and what the thing we're calling the thing says about the thing!!!

*cracks knuckles*

Brick vs. Bloom - the showdown

Mouth feel:

• “Brick” is the clear winner. It has plosive sounds which are more fun to say. They're punchy and satisfying. The “k” sound has a strong, clean ending.

• “Bloom” is softer. It has rounder sounds. Cozy, but not as memorable.

Assumptive Meaning:

• “Brick”: Aggressive. For the addicts who really need a HARD stop to their phone use.

• "Bloom": Paints the picture of the opportunity to improve in other areas of their life.

One says, “your willpower is trash, I'll be strong for you.” 

One whispers, “hey, why don't you put that down and watch your life blossom.” 

Neither is wrong.

One sells the product.

The other sells the result.

Names ARE subjective. 

To a point… the good ones make you think. The BEST ones tell a whole story before you even have to. 

Objectively, “Brick” is stronger because linguistics and psychology say so. 

Subjectively, I know “Bloom” is too soft for the problem I'm dealing with. I'll HAPPILY pay more for the one that SOUNDS like it'd beat me in my fight for my life back. 

A life I'm looking to rebuild BRICK by BRICK with my BRICK!!!

So many meanings in so few letters.

(Which is exactly what my brand name means.)