Smartphones Are Toys First, Tools Second
A few personal usage tactics I’ve been experimenting with, since I’ve been dealing with smartphone overuse since 2005:<p>1) No social media apps.<p>2) Four icons on the home screen (for iPhone, go to this site: <a href="https://david-smith.org/blank.html" rel="nofollow">https://david-smith.org/blank.html</a> click share button and add to home screen. Change wallpaper to black. Each black icon you add to the home screen will take up a space where an app would have been, helping you focus on apps that you find most important)<p>3) Airplane mode when I’m on vacation (so I can still use the camera but won’t be tempted to reply to a text).<p>4) Few notifications other than calendar, phone, and text. Absolutely no email notifications. Selective and timed Slack notifications since I’m often mobile and don’t want to be the bottleneck at work.<p>5) No games.<p>6) Limited video use. Overuse hasn’t been a problem, so I don’t set hard guidelines on this.<p>7) Leave phone in car [clearly I don’t live in SF] or at home during scheduled time with loved ones.<p>8) Wear cellular Apple Watch and carry AirPods in pocket when leaving phone at home - if there may be an important call coming in while I’m intentionally preventing myself from working while mobile.<p>9) Keep phone charging at night in bathroom on do not disturb. No checking during middle of the night bathroom usage.<p>10) Limit non-essential apps to informational apps - like HN.<p>Smartphones are tools first or they can be toys first. That depends on the goals and discipline level of the user.