Being a Slave To Your Phone

I’ve had an iPhone since 2009 or so, and like most people, I use it multiple times a day for many reasons – looking something up online, listening to music or a podcast, playing a game, browsing social media, etc.

I didn’t realize it but very quickly you become addicted to the device – being a slave to your phone and each and every notification that pops up.

A few weeks ago I was listening to the Back to Work podcast (episode 439) where host Merlin Mann said “don’t be a slave to the red badge”, meaning the notification icon that shows on the top right of apps when you have an update.

This is definitely something I am cognizant of, and a few years ago I turned off notifications on my phone for a large number of apps. I don’t need to know every time someone likes a tweet, a game is ready to play, checked into a restaurant near me, whatever.

Do I need to know every time I get an email immediately as it comes in? No. I get way too much email, so checking every few hours is probably fine. Probably more than fine. And as an aside, make sure your friends and family know your preference for the best way to contact you.

Unless it was someone that was trying to contact me, a text, direct message, phone call, etc, the notification and badges were turned off.

I’m still picking my phone up a lot, but it also buzzes at me a lot less which doesn’t steal my attention when I am busy doing more important things.

Take a listen to the podcast linked above, jump to 57:34 and listen for a while.

Maybe you’ll find something useful, or maybe I’m just a crazy person.