I know smartphones get a bad rap for being time wasters, productivity zappers, and life distractions. And yes, I do believe they CAN be all of these things… IF WE LET THEM!
If you are constantly distracted by your phone, if you’re frustrated with the amount of time you waste on your device, or if you’re looking for a really quick way to instantly boost your productivity each day, today’s quick-tip is for YOU!
My Quick Tip to Reduce Distractions + Increase Productivity:
Dave and I finally splurged on our first smartphones in 2013.
At the time, we had been “holding out” on this new technology (it really wasn’t even ‘new’ anymore!) because we didn’t feel smartphones were necessary. However, after roughly 2 hours with our fancy new-fangled devices, we decided we never wanted to live without them!
One thing I’ve done since 2013 (but only recently realized how beneficial it is for my life) is to turn all notifications OFF.
Yes, I turn ALL off notifications (except text and calls from select people).
This means my phone never makes noise, never vibrates, and never flashes a message on my home screen UNLESS I’m actually getting a phone call or a text message from the people I want to talk to.
As long as I have the volume turned on, my phone will ring when I’m getting a phone call and ding one time when I get a text message.
Other than that, it doesn’t make any noise and it won’t flash any alerts or notifications in my face all day long!
This means I actually need to unlock and open my phone to check emails, voicemail, Facebook messages, social media, my blog comments, and Culver’s current flavor of the day!
I promise it’s not that much of an inconvenience!
It only takes 1 minute to turn notifications off, and I’m positive it will increase your productivity and reduce your daily distractions!
Just think about all the times you’re right in the middle of something… but you get distracted by the flash of “new information” on your screen. Yup, it’s a great way to immediately kill your productivity and momentum!
Or what about when you feel a buzz in your pocket during an actual conversation with someone, and you instinctively pull out your phone, look away from the other person, and get start scrolling on your phone (seriously, this happens to me SO often in my in-person conversations with others — I just want to grab the phone out of their hands and say “turn the notifications off!”)
The number of times we get distracted by our phones and devices each day is pretty crazy — especially if you don’t have your notification turned off.
Thankfully, this is a really simple quick-fix!
How to Turn Notifications Off On Your Device:
If you aren’t sure how to turn your notifications off, it’s most likely under “Settings” and then “Notifications” (see the screenshot of my iPhone below).
Once you’re in the Notifications area, you should be able to customize which notifications you get all the time, and which ones you only want to get after you unlock your phone.
You can also choose to get visual notifications WITHOUT the sound (I highly recommend turning the sound off).
If you still can’t figure it out, Google: “how to turn notifications off for a _________” (insert name of your device).
As I mentioned above, I currently have all notifications turned off except calls and messages.
I know this extreme no-notification method won’t work for every lifestyle, but personally, I’m confident the lack of notifications increases my productivity throughout the day and reduces the feeling that I NEED to have my phone with me wherever I go.
At the very least, I encourage you to look through your list of notifications and consider if any of them could be turned off (or silenced) for a week or so.
You might discover you don’t miss the notifications as much as you thought!
Even if your goal isn’t to reduce distraction or increase productivity, you’ll still be able to enjoy fewer dings, beeps, and buzzes throughout your day!
Plus, you won’t be THAT person with the super annoying phone!
RELATED READING: How We Save BIG With a Prepaid Cell Phone Plan
Brenda says
I love the principle of this, though my methods are a bit different. I only shut off everything at night, but I customize every app for during the day. Each app that I want notifications from uses a different tone, so I know from the sound whether I can ignore it for now or deal with it immediately. I haven’t tried shutting all notifications down during the day but I wonder if it would make me (NOT everyone!) even more distracted. I would be constantly checking to see if I had something to deal with, rather than hearing the sound and knowing it can wait. And without calender/Google Keep notifications I would miss every appointment I ever make. 🙂
Also, most apps you can customize what kind of notifications you get. For instance, on Facebook I don’t want to hear about birthdays or when people post pics so I shut those off. But I DO want to know when our Boy Scout troop posts something in our private group because it might be info about that evening’s meeting location/cancellation (during non-quarantine times). All of that can be customized!
Anyway, I agree with you that we should make our phones work for us, not the other way around!!
Andrea says
This is EXCELLENT advice Brenda! Thanks so much for sharing! I might have to implement this with a few apps I use that I’d like to get some notifications on (like if someone wants to buy something from me on Facebook Marketplace).
Thanks again!
Martha says
I literally just had this conversation with my son last night. I only have texts and calls as a notification and my husband has everything under the sun come through his phone and then he has to sort through to see if there is anything important. I can wait to see who posts what on Facebook, what the new weather report is and even breaking news, Thanks for the post!!!
Andrea says
yes, I feel the same way — I don’t want to know every time someone does anything!
Shari says
I have personalized ringtones and dings for my husband and my mom. That makes the less important/urgent notifications easier to ignore!
Andrea says
this is great! I actually have a special ring-tone for Dave too. It’s helpful if I’m unsure I want to get up to get my phone!
Margaret says
Since I work nights (and am not really supposed to carry my phone, although I do) and sleep days I leave the notifications turned off almost all the time. It really isn’t a problem for me–I check it as soon as I wake up for anything I missed, and check every couple of hours when I’m awake. People I actually want to communicate with know that I have a weird schedule, and anyone else can just leave a voicemail. I prefer to communicate via text or email anyway.
The only thing that over-rides is severe weather alerts. I do want to know when the tornado’s coming. Back before smartphones I used to have a weather radio, and the notification area was quite large. Used to infuriate me when it blasted off to say, “All small craft on Lake Michigan should seek safe harbor immediately” when I’m 60 miles inland. The smartphone that knows where I am and only issues warnings for that area is an enormous improvement.
Andrea says
Sounds like you have a good system so you’re not overly-distracted by all the updates and alerts!
Nancy Johnson says
I keep my phone on Low Battery mode so that the battery charge lasts longer, and it serves pretty much the same purpose as turning off notifications. I do not receive emails or get alerts for FB unless I unlock the phone and actually open email or FB. I do get phone calls and texts.
Rhonda says
I totally agree. I need to keep my phone on for overnight calls when I’m on-call for my job at the hospital. But what happens (and angers me) is that I get woken up by (non-urgent) text messages (too early in the morning) from my mother, or (too late at night) from my MIL. I keep my phone in the bathroom next to my bedroom – close enough to hear a call, but far enough to not hear the quieted notifications. After reading this though, I think I’m going to just try to silence all notifications, as I think you are right about it being a distraction and hindering productivity.
BB says
I did this several years ago when I kept missing texts from my family. Not many others than family have my cell phone number, so when I get a text notification, it gets my attention. I do allow my phone to ring for phone calls, as sometimes this is a preferred method of communication by a family member over texting. And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that I can block numbers that don’t show up with a name from my contacts list, especially ones from some area code totally foreign to me.
I do not do other methods of communication though, like tweeting, instagram, & whatever else is out there. I do like that I can check my email if I wish, but it does not notify me of any incoming emails.
I, too, like the idea of fines for cell phones in certain venues, as it truly does heighten the interaction and conversation WITH eye contact and animation rather than over the edge of their cell phone in a monotone or distracted tone/voice.
Summer says
I have done this for years too and mine doesn’t even make noise for texts or calling. I do have voicemail and texting is simply a convenience I get to when I have time. It’s usually near me and I can see the flashes of notifications. I have 5 daughters 15-27 and am very much in touch with them daily via texts, but without any noice/vibration alerts. At our home we also request all alerts are silenced if we spend an evening together. You can still text, but with all of them and boyfriends and husbands, that’s too much. Everyone does a great job of engaging with the group over living on their phones. Mostly.
We had a bride and groom party this summer for three days at a campground and actually FINED anyone caught with a phone. The $5 fine went to the bride and groom and the 30 people had so much more engaging fun! No phones lost in the water or listening to ‘where’s my phone’ constantly or the notification beeps. People used them, but in their cabins or out of the general area of the group. We did have one photo session, but the rest of the time it was fantastic to disconnect and bond. Highly recommend this to anyone for a large group!
Andrea says
I LOVE the idea of fining people for using phones in a large group — genius!
Summer says
A couple were very offended by this, but we had a 50″s theme and used the play that there were no cellphones in the 50’s. Annnnd really… who can’t disconnect for several hours and not really miss anything?!?! Of course there are exceptions, but it was the very best thing to diffuse that whole group 10 days before the wedding.
No one actually used one even once, No fees collected!
Andrea says
people are always offended by something 🙂 I wouldn’t worry too much about it! Sounds like a super fun party!
Avia Thompson says
I JUST did this last week. I turned off all notifications except for texts and phone calls. I had been meaning to do it for months. I keep my phone by my bed at night and I know those notifications were disturbing my sleep. Now I just need to get hubby to do the same….
Brittany says
Agreed! I do the same, and it’s fantastic to take action (on emails, apps, etc) on my own terms rather than being reactive. It keeps my attention less divided. YOU are in control rather than being like Pavlov’s dogs with your phone.
Andrea says
exactly!
Bridget says
Agree! I keep all sound off and let my apple watch buzz once even for calls and texts. It makes a huge difference in distraction and general noisiness!
Diana says
Yes! The only sound (and visual) notifications I get are text and calls. If I haven’t used my phone for awhile and unlock it I will sometimes get a weather update that comes with a ding, but that is it. It is annoying to be around people who get notified for every email, facebook message, etc. they receive. It is distracting.
jen says
i agree with this advice. the only notification i get besides calls and texts is the calendar. calendar notifications are key to getting our family out the door with all we need each day.
Brittany says
Glad I read your comment. I’m so on top of turning notifications off, that I think my calendar notifications are off too. There’s been a time or two I didn’t get a reminder I thought I should have. Thanks 🙂