Despite the plethora of to-do apps available on the iPhone, its capacity to distract is immeasurable.
Social media, games, email, and immediate access to the internet from anywhere at anytime is kryptonite to our superhero attempts to focus and get stuff done.
Even Superman doesn’t stand a chance.
Multitasking is a myth and yet we succumb to the tyranny of technology so easily.
You can’t do more than one thing at a time. Why do we demand our phones do the same thing?
Nod and smile (or shake your head in shame) if any of these scenarios have happened to you:
- Texting while driving.
- Checking email during dinner.
- Watching Netflix in bed until 1am.
- Scrolling through Facebook during a meeting.
- Tweeting a quote from a book.
- Instagramming a picture of your desk.
In each of these instances we’re supposed to be doing one thing (driving, eating, sleeping, etc) and instead we’re distracting ourselves into oblivion.
Now, I love me some technology. You can do so much with it. There is an app for almost everything. Except one thing.
You.
There is no app for you. We need you to be where you are. The world needs you to do that important thing that means so much to you.
Tweeting a quote from the book you’re reading isn’t reading.
Instagramming a photo of the desk you’re writing at isn’t writing.
Updating Facebook with movie commentary isn’t a date night on the couch.
Do the thing. Don’t capture activity around the thing.
And by they way, I am the worst at this. I’m constantly messing with my phone without actually doing anything. I get so easy distracted by the next shiny object I miss out on the opportunity to create and be present.
So here are 2 secret iPhone settings I’m using to boost productivity on the go and everywhere else.
1. Turn off notifications
But what if I miss something? Cool your jets. If the President of the United States tags you in a photo on Facebook, you can check it later. How important are notifications, really?
At the advice of a GTD ninja (Moe) I’ve turned off all notifications except for:
- Calendar (I need to know what conference room to go to)
- Emails from LK (aka “Mrs. Procter”)
- iMessages
I understand your job might require other notifications to be present, but I bet if you honestly asked yourself what was important, you’d be flipping the off switch on most apps.
2. Turn off cellular access
Regardless of whether or not you have an unlimited data plan, you have a limited attention span. The human brain is a wonder of God’s creation, but you can still only do one thing at a time.
One of my goals is to write 500 words a day. With 1 wife, 2 jobs, 3 kids, and a 4:00am alarm this is no easy task. And that’s not counting all the email, blogs, and social media eager to distract me.
I recently learned you can turn off cell access for certain apps. With wifi at home and work, this seems like a no brainer. Not only will I save on data, but while riding the bus to/from work I’m forced to focus on writing (iA Writer Pro is my weapon of choice).
These tips might seem small, but they can transform your iPhone from a time-suck into a time-boost. Think of all the stuff you could accomplish without constant access to everything.
Creativity requires a construct to thrive. Productivity requires constraints to survive.
Chip Dizard says
I have a love/hate relationship with my iPhone and yes, these tips really help. Esp turning off cellular data when listening to my podcasts.