Just take a look around when walking down the street or travelling by public transport and you will see most people holding smart phones in their hands. They text with their friends or look for something on the Internet. The situation at work is similar. We tend to feel that we are more productive thanks to smart phones. In reality, however, we let our phones disturb us so much that it harms not only our work performance, but also the relationships with our loved ones.
How can you prevent your phone from taking control over your life? We have some practical advice for you from Canadian Chris Bailey. This man decided to devote a year after finishing university to seeking various ways to become as productive as possible. He underwent a series of practical experiments, including using his smart phone just one hour a day for three months. He published his findings online as well as in a book and became a lecturer and expert consultant in the area of productivity.
After finishing the experiment of using his mobile phone for one hour a day, Bailey started using his phone more frequently again. However, he created a few rituals that help him avoid becoming dependent on the phone. Try the following tips.
Exchange your phones
Chris Bailey made a deal with his girlfriend that whenever they spend time together, they exchange their phones. When they need to call someone, take a picture or find something on the Internet, they use the other's phone. They finish the task quickly and don't get distracted by other content available in the phone. It's a great way to pay more attention to your loved ones.
Use the "airplane mode"
When you have a coffee or lunch with somebody, activate the airplane mode on your phone. Your phone will than not accept any calls or messages and you can fully concentrate on the person you are speaking with. Chris Bailey also activates this mode every day from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. so that he can rest without distractions.
Create a "Mindless" folder
Create a folder in your phone and move all applications you are using out of habit, without even thinking about it, to the folder. These may include, for example, e-mail or Facebook. Chris Bailey does not use e-mail on the phone at all, but he has moved other applications to this folder. It helps him to avoid getting distracted every time he looks at the phone.
Turn off all notifications
The constant beeping of incoming messages creates a false illusion of productivity. It distracts us and ultimately prolongs the time required to perform each task. Chris Bailey's experiments showed that the best solution is to turn off all phone sounds except ringing.
Do you have similar rituals too?
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