Hey Time Dorks,
Happy 2024!
This week, we’re exploring a tactic that gets right to the heart of our philosophy around technology: using a distraction-free phone.
Jake’s had a distraction-free iPhone since 2013, John since 2014, and I made the switch in 2018.
If you felt glued to your phone in 2023, this might be a great tactic to give it a shot.
We’ll also explore a new phone that is designed to be distraction-free and how we’re influenced by what we create.
🏃♂️Something to Try
Bzzt.
Your phone buzzes. You reach into your pocket to check your notification. Your mom liked your Instagram photo.
Okay. Now back to work…
Bzzt.
“What now?” you think to yourself. You check again.
Your mom liked your other Instagram photo.
Ugh.
Has this scenario ever happened to you? Because it feels like it happens to me at least 7 times a day. Even when I turn my notifications off, I can feel my phone calling to me the way The Ring called Bilbo Baggins in Lord of The Rings.
But then Jake told me about the “Distraction-Free Phone” (Tactic #17).
Put simply, it’s removing all the alluring apps that steal your attention.
Here’s how it works:
1. Decide why you want more attention.
My reason was paying better attention to my girlfriend (now my wife!). Your reason might be giving more attention to people you care about, or making time for a work project or hobby. Whatever you choose, it helps to have a reason because deleting apps is tough!
2. Set expectations.
Tell colleagues and friends, “I’m slow to respond because I’m focusing on something important. Call me if it’s urgent.”
3. Delete social media apps.
Keep in mind that you can always check in on another device (laptop, tablet, etc) or reinstall if you really have to.
4. Delete news apps.
It feels like “the responsible thing” to stay up to date on the nonstop breaking news — but we can and should step back.
5. Delete streaming video apps and games.
You can still watch a show or play a game, just add the barrier of installing the app each time (or do it on another device instead).
6. Remove web browsers.
You’ll have to dig for the option in your phone settings. On the iPhone, go into Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → Allowed Apps and switch off Safari.
7. Delete email and other “productivity” messaging apps.
This can be the hardest step (it was for me!) because these apps are tied to work. Yes, some percentage of people — on-call doctors, technicians, and so forth — actually must respond immediately. But the rest of us should ask: Can it wait till tomorrow? Read about this study which shows you’ll be more efficient (and less stressed!) if you check messages less often.
One final tip: give it two hours and see how you feel
Two hours is enough to experience the feeling of freedom.
But if you like, try it overnight, or for one day, or even a whole week.
However long your experiment is, spend some time on the focal point you chose above (#1) and notice the quality of your attention.
I think you’ll find it easier to focus, but I’m me and you’re you.
Read the full article on our blog: Six Years With a Distraction-Free iPhone
🤖 Tech & Tools
If you find you just can’t delete the apps you need to because of your job, or you want a dedicated distraction-free phone for vacations or weekends, check out the Light Phone ll.
It has zero social media platforms, no clickbait news, email, internet browser, or any other anxiety-inducing infinite feeds. You can call and text people, but there’s nothing else to distract you. It’s a premium, minimal phone that functions like an iPhone (but without the distractions).
Note: we haven’t tried it ourselves, but it looks pretty neat!
📚 Timely Quotes
Churchill was talking about architecture, but I believe the same principle applies to our digital technologies:
“We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us.”
— Winston Churchill
Thanks for reading, see you next week!
Connor
