On some things, I have a tremendous amount self-control. When it comes to wasting time on my smartphone, I am weak. I am disappointed in myself and am sad to say. it has come to this.

What you see is a device called Kitchen Safe. It is a time locking container that is designed to keep those oh-so-tempting things away from us for a designated period of time.

All you do is put the offending item in the container, spin the dial until you reach the proper amount of time you need away from it (anywhere from minutes to days) and press the dial down. The timer gives you five seconds to change your mind before locking your addiction away until your time is up. Once the Kitchen Safe is locked, there is no opening it. You must wait it out, so make sure you are ready to commit to the time you’ve entered before you press the button.

What if I get a text or a phone call I need? I make sure my Apple Watch is charged and ready to tackle the job. That or I just wait because, let’s be honest, that kind of thinking is part of the problem.

If you want to give yourself or your family a time out from cookies, candy or remote controls, this item great option. The container isn’t huge, but it is perfect for many jobs of keep away. For my phone, I did need to make the slight modification of drilling a hole into the tub in order to snake a charging cable through.

So far, I must say it has been a very effective tool. I’m not proud that it is needed, but I’m getting a lot more done with my iPhone locked away. This blog, for example…