What’s your answer to the question above? I think we’re all guilty of how we use our phones or gadgets. They can be a distraction—maybe not just sometimes, but, maybe all the time. Don’t you agree?
If you don’t mind, let me ask you a few questions: How do you use your gadgets? Are they your tools or distractions? Do you think you can still change the way you use them?
In this article, I’ll share some tips on how to make your gadgets more useful as tools instead of distractions. I’ll also show you some apps on my phone that help me stay focused and avoid getting distracted.
Make a Distraction-Free Phone
What is a distraction-free phone? It’s the idea of keeping only the apps you really need and permanently deleting those that distract you. I got this tip from the book Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky—and it works!
Think about it: the apps we use the most are usually right on our home screen, right? But I’ve realized it’s better to keep only essential apps there. This way, you’re less tempted to waste time on your phone.
One app that’s helped me simplify my home screen is the Flow Minimalist Launcher. (See my post here) I’ve been using it as my default homescreen for almost two years, and I love its simple design. With this launcher, I can hide app icons and limit my home screen to just 5—or fewer than 10—essential apps.
Whenever I notice an app on my home screen starting to distract me, I remove it from my favorites so I’m not tempted to open it. I also use Focus Mode to block access to the app drawer, preventing me from scrolling through apps I don’t need.
Of course, as Make Time points out, “a distraction-free phone isn’t for everyone.” Some people are naturally better at controlling their gadget use. But if you’re like me and need a little help, this approach might work for you too.
Create a Friction
Have you ever noticed how often you check your phone? Or thought about which apps take up most of your time and attention?
Did you know that a 2018 study found Gen Z unlocks their phones an average of 79 times a day? Millennials follow with 63 unlocks, while the Silent Generation averages just 18 unlocks daily.
One app that’s helped me become more mindful of my phone usage is, ironically, called Regain. This app limits your time on distracting apps. When you open one, a notification pops up, asking how long you want to use it—2, 5, 10, or 20 minutes.
For example, if you choose 2 minutes, once the time is up, another pop-up reminds you that your time is up. At that point, you can either close the app and refocus or keep using it and stay distracted.
This app has been a game-changer for me. Sure, I still get distracted sometimes, but tools like this make a big difference. It’s like fighting technology with technology—to regain your life and the focus you want.
Lock Me Out
Here’s an app that’s been super effective for me—especially if you’re like me and often find yourself mindlessly scrolling through the internet or endlessly watching YouTube Shorts or Facebook Shorts.
This app lets you block certain apps during specific time frames. For example, you can set it to block distracting apps from 8 PM to 8 AM. Then, during the day (8 AM to 8 PM), you can keep the apps you need for work but still block the ones that are more distracting.
You might wonder why I don’t block distracting apps entirely during the day. Well, it’s because not all apps are distractions during work hours. For example, I use my browser for work—it’s helpful during the day. But after work, I don’t need to use it at night just to check work-related stuff—I’ve got my company tablet for that, if needed.
By blocking my browser at night until morning, I’m not tempted to scroll endlessly online (since I often use my browser for YouTube and Facebook). I’ve also completely blocked the YouTube app because I can’t uninstall it. Sure, I could disable it, but it’s so easy to enable again. So why not block it completely, right?
This setup has really helped me stay focused in the evenings and mornings. Instead of wasting time, I get to work on the things that matter most. If you feel like certain apps are taking over your time, you might want to try this app too. It might change things significantly!
Lock My Phone
Anyway, there’s another app that’s even more intense than Lock Me Out. It’s called Lock My Phone. Once you activate it, you can’t unlock your phone until a specific time.
Let’s be honest, when we go to bed and wake up in the middle of the night, it’s so tempting to grab our phones. And at those times, we usually get distracted, and it’s likely that we’ll mess up our sleep. Am I right?
But what if, even if you reach for your phone, you can’t unlock it? That’s the power of the Lock My Phone app. You really can’t unlock it. Instead of getting distracted by your phone in the middle of the night, you can just let your eyes rest and sleep peacefully. It’s such a huge help. And most of the time, I’m more focused in the morning because I’ve had a full night’s sleep and wasn’t distracted. (Except, of course, when my acid reflux hits in the middle of the night.)
If you want to give it a try, why not? Download it and see how it helps you stay more focused.
My Conclusion
That’s how I use my gadgets. Instead of letting them distract me, I use apps as tools to block distractions. As they say, willpower alone isn’t enough to succeed in a world full of distractions. We need extra tools to help us. By using technology the right way, your gadget can become a useful tool, not a distraction.
Anyways, thanks for reading! See you in the next post, folks!