In today’s fast-paced digital world, smartphones have become essential to both work and leisure. From managing tasks to staying connected, your phone serves as a portal to almost everything.
Yet, as indispensable as they are, smartphones often come with their own set of challenges: constant distractions, unnecessary screen time, and sluggish battery performance. It’s easy to fall into the trap of scrolling aimlessly or responding to every ping, but with a little effort, you can take charge of your phone usage. By making some simple changes, you can optimise your device to support your productivity, wellbeing, and even battery life, all while reducing unnecessary distractions.
Take Control of Notifications
Notifications are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to distraction. Constant alerts from social media, emails, and news apps can make it difficult to stay focused on what’s important. Fortunately, you can regain control by tailoring your notification settings. Start by prioritising essential notifications, such as messages or calendar reminders, while silencing less urgent ones.
For instance, turn off notifications for non-essential apps like shopping or entertainment services. If you’re using an Android phone, head to the settings to customise which apps can send notifications and which can’t. On iPhone, the “Do Not Disturb” function can be set to activate during work hours or when you need to focus.
Use Digital Wellbeing and Productivity Apps
Digital wellbeing tools and productivity apps can provide you with useful insights into your phone usage and encourage healthier habits. Many smartphones come pre-installed with features that track screen time, helping you identify how much time you’re spending on your phone. You can then set limits for specific apps, ensuring you’re not spending hours mindlessly scrolling through social media.
There are various productivity apps that offer task management, reminders, and even timers to keep you on track. The more you actively monitor and adjust your usage, the easier it becomes to resist unnecessary screen time and stay focused on your goals.
Optimise Battery Life
If you’re like most people, you don’t want to worry about your phone dying halfway through the day. Thankfully, there are simple adjustments you can make to extend your phone’s battery life. Start by lowering your screen brightness or enabling adaptive brightness, which adjusts automatically depending on your surroundings.
Turning off background data for apps that don’t need it will also conserve battery power. For instance, apps like email or messaging can fetch data less frequently when you’re not actively using them. By making these adjustments, you’ll reduce the need for frequent recharging, giving you more hours of use between charges.
Declutter and Organise Your Apps
A cluttered home screen can make it harder to navigate your phone efficiently, increasing the time spent searching for apps. Streamlining your app organisation can improve your phone’s usability, especially when you’re on the go.
Start by removing any apps you rarely use, leaving only the essentials on your main screen. You can group apps into folders based on categories like work or entertainment, making it quicker to access what you need. A tidy layout also helps reduce the temptation to mindlessly open apps. For example, if you use a free bingo app in your downtime, placing it in a leisure folder can make it easier to find when you want to unwind without wasting time scrolling through your phone.
An organised home screen not only makes it easier to find what you need but also helps to maintain a more productive and mindful phone experience.
