Why you should kill your notifications
Seriously, it’s time.
Our smartphone is doing literally everything — it’s our primary camera, the way we keep in touch with friends and how we consume news, videos and music.
It’s also why we’re not getting any work done.
The device you love so much also happens to be meticulously optimized for maximum engagement. Throughout the day, every app on your phone is firing off an endless stream of notifications, fighting for your attention by lighting up the screen, vibrating in your pocket or — god forbid — even making a sound.
From there, it only takes a couple of taps to jump into the app, and before you know it you’re mindlessly scrolling through your Facebook feed.
So how do we deal with this piece of productivity drain floating right in front of our faces all day? Turns out there are a couple of solutions.
Turn off notifications
Yes, this might sound like an extreme measure — but turning off notifications for your apps can be a lifesaver.
Think about it – how much would you really be missing if you turned off all of them? Sure, some things might need an immediate reply, but most things are nothing more than lock screen junk. Also, there’s always the option to manually dip into an app to see what’s new.
Alright, so maybe you don’t want to turn off all notifications – I get it. In that case, it’s still worth it to clean up the flurry of messages directing attention to your phone. It’s pretty easy: just jump into your settings and look through your current setup. Turn off notifications for as many apps as possible, while only leaving absolutely necessary apps turned on.
Personally, I only have notifications on for critical communication apps — nothing else. Do you really need to be notified every time someone likes your Instagram picture? I don’t think so.
Turn on Do Not Disturb
Maybe you’re not ready to turn off your notifications yet. That’s alright. At the very least, you should turn on Do Not Disturb for the better part of your day.
It’s easy to get into the habit of turning it on every time you’re getting ready to do some work, and it’ll save you from looking at your phone every time a notification pops up. An alternative is to schedule DND to turn on during your busiest hours of the day—both iPhone and Android support this, and it makes for one less thing to worry about.
Track the time you’re spending on your phone
You might not realize, but the average human spends over 4 hours on their phone every day. You’re reading this on Medium, a decidedly nerdy corner of the internet, so chances are you’re above average.
It’s easy to find out — just install Moment. By tracking every second you spend on your phone, it gives a great overview of how much you get distracted every day. The results might surprise you, but don’t worry—it also gives you great tips on how to be less on your phone, and more time spent being productive or living life. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll eventually end up turning off your notifications anyway.
How do you deal with constant phone distraction? Let me know by leaving a reply.
