How To Stop Getting Distracted With Your Phone While Working
Arguably the biggest obstacle that we face as one of the most developed species on the planet is staying focused. Isn’t it crazy to think that we fall victim to such a small device every single day? We are all trying to figure out how to stop getting distracted. We could be doing so much with the time we have but every single day we just… don’t.
However, we aren’t all to blame. The apps we are consumed with are engineered by professionals and scientists to keep us on their platform. The longer you stay on an app, the more ad revenue a company receives whether you click their ads or not. So attention is currency. I feel it’s fair to state not all apps rely on this business model – some do put the user intent as their main focus, but most prioritize profit solely.
With that being said, I want to give you some fool-proof solutions to help you focus your attention on one thing at a time and get your life where you want it to be.
Something I intertwine in a lot of my productivity and studying articles is the power of eliminating distractions. That is what the majority of this article will entail and I will add specific ways you can do a better job at staying focused.
How To Stop Getting Distracted (With Your Phone)
Lock Your Applications
This is a great way to minimize distractions while you work. Most smartphone devices allow you to put time limits on your apps through the settings on your phone. When activated, if you are on that app for a second over the time limit you placed on that particular app, you will get locked out of it.
Why this works:
- Allows you a time limit to be on an app
- Locks you out after the time limit
Forest App
Another way to minimize your distractions and stay focused is by using Pomodoro apps. The Forest app is my favorite platform that utilizes the Pomodoro method. If you want a full review, check out why this is my favorite productivity app in the related article below! This is a great hack because this particular app helps you and helps our environment.
Why this works:
- “Deep Focus Mode” means you can’t go off of the app or you will kill a virtual tree
- Utilizes the Pomodoro Method
Related → App Review: Is Forest The Best Productivity App?
Use a Time Cube
If you haven’t noticed from my content, I am a huge believer in time-blocking and the Pomodoro technique. This means using a time cube fits in perfectly with my routine. This can be in addition to putting your phone in another room because you don’t need the timer or Forest app anymore.
Related → Time Blocking Your Life To Improve Time-Management (Easy Tutorial)
Time cubes are often utilized when you want to use the Pomodoro method. So you can study or work starting with 25 minutes, then take a short break, and then do another 25 minutes. It can also be used to focus on something for however much time you want that is on the cube.
The best thing about these cubes is that you can do increments of different times! You don’t have to stick to the 25-5-25 routine, you can extend it to 30-5-30 or even 40-5-40. And if you don’t know what that means, click the related article just below. ↓↓↓
Why this works:
- You have a way to track your time
- You have cut off all access to your phone (if you pair the tip above)
- No charging required
Related → How To Use The Pomodoro Technique
Change The Locations Of Your Apps
One of the great features of the new iPhone updates is that you don’t have to keep all of your apps on your iPhone pages. There is an app library that stores all of your applications. You no longer have to scroll through your iPhone pages and get distracted with Instagram and Tiktok. If you really want to access these apps, you have to scroll all the way to the library page and search for your desired app.
Why this works:
- You aren’t tempted by social media on your home pages
- You create an extra step to get to these apps (giving you more time to second guess your decision)
Delete Your Apps…Temporarily
This is another very effective method that I do when I notice I’ve been sucked into the social media vortex. Some days you have every intention to get a lot of work done but you end up wasting the day away on Tiktok, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, or YouTube.
Once I hit this day of minimal productivity-I cut the app out cold turkey. Instagram is my latest victim and I can honestly say, I’m less stressed, not as anxious wondering who watched my Instagram Stories, and I’m WAY more productive!
Whenever I do this, I only allow myself to use Instagram through Safari or Chrome on my phone. It’s not as fun or addicting. Try it! The inconvenience of using your favorite apps through Safari should be a big enough turn-off that you just call it quits.
And it’s not forever, but it’s a quick fix that actually does the trick.
Why this works:
- You don’t have easy access to the apps on your phone
- You’ve eliminated a huge part of the problem
Put Your Phone In Another Room
As our relationship with our phones has grown more and more over time, it makes sense if this is a harder one to do. But this method for focusing has been life-changing for me. Once you allow yourself to cut all ties with your phone (and let me remind you it’s not forever, it’s just for the time you’re working), you will enter a crazy level of focus you have wanted to achieve for years. Rather than simply adding app time limits or using the Forest app, you’re cutting out the root of the problem, your phone.
Allow yourself the opportunity to see how much you can get done when you choose to get rid of your phone.
Why this works:
- You have cut off all access to your phone
- You’re making it less attractive to use your phone because you have to get up and go to where ever you put your phone
These are all powerful ways to help you stay focused and learn how to stop getting distracted. Let me know if there are other ways you learned how to stop getting distracted with your phone.
Join me in this mission to watch less and do more. Join me in creating discipline and reinforcing good habits rather than falling victim to the ones that cripple our success. If I can do it, so can you!
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