Smartphone – Evil Distractor or Results Multiplier?
Just about 2.5 billion people in the world have a smartphone. Some see their smartphone as an evil device of distraction, something they are addicted to, and something that is a time vampire in their life. With its constant notifications and access to all your social media, it certainly could rule your life. But does it have too?
Is it Really Evil?
I recently asked my son if he thought our Apple iPhone’s were good for our lives or bad for our lives. Now for the record, he could be biased since he is currently working at Apple in Sunnyvale, California.
What he said was…
“It’s just a tool – how you use it is up to you.” Bo Oelkers, Software Engineer at Apple
I think that’s true. I’ve seen it used productively and I’ve seen it used unproductively.
I’ve seen people totally distracted, constantly checking social media, emails, and text messages – it can be overwhelming. I’ve seen people walking (and unfortunately driving) totally consumed by their smartphone.
On the flip side, I’ve seen totally productive uses as well. I start every morning in my You Version Bible App and my Headspace meditation App. I use it all day long to stay connected to the most important people in my life. I’m always only a few clicks away from those I love.
Like Bo said it’s actually just a tool. A powerful tool.
Its effect on you is based on how you use it.
Just how powerful a tool is it? Would you like to guess how many times a day you unlock your smartphone? There have been many studies on smartphone use and on average we unlock our phone over 100 times a day! I talked about these studies in a TEDx talk I did on WYTAYBA (What you think about you bring about).
One of the most powerful things you can do is take a picture of whatever your top goal is and then set that as your smartphone unlock screen. Doing that you will turn the evil distractor into the results multiplier.
Apple realizes the power of your smartphone as a tool. Apple is now updating the iPhone software to allow you to track and manage your interaction. Some of the things you will be able to do are track the time spent on your smartphone, know how long you are using specific apps, set downtime periods to control your usage and the number of times you unlock your smartphone.
Be careful of smartphone addiction – it’s powerful. But it is your hands. You can control it and you can set it up to serve you not control you. Your smartphone SETTINGS are the KEY to using it as a RESULTS Multiplier!
Here are some suggestions…
- Set the Unlock Screen to your current goal – this will program your mind to achieve it
- Set up your Home Screen – remove most of the apps from your home screen – have that first screen be very clean with only the most important 1, 2 or 3 apps. Put all the other apps on page 2. This allows you to focus first only on the important stuff. It gives you an extra step and another moment to think before you fall into distraction mode.
- Notifications – turn them off. It’s that simple, don’t let all the social media, email and text messages keep interrupting you. The world will wait, you have important work to do.
- Use Do Not Disturb Mode – don’t be shy about putting your phone into do not disturb mode. Get some work done, enjoy some downtime.
- Use Folders – you can combine apps into folders and then name the folders. I put all my social media apps into a folder called “Don’t Do It”. This is funny but it also gives me a moment to resist the temptation to check it.
- Voice Activation – Siri or Google Assist can be used to set timers, reminders, take notes, read text messages and emails and a whole host of hand free functions.
The choice is yours. Evil Distractor or Results Multiplier? You decide.
Take a moment right now to change your unlock screen, set up your home screen, turn off some notifications and increase the positive power of your smartphone. You’re going to have it with you all the time – might as well turn it into a Results Multiplier.
Take control of your smartphone and make it a great day!
Blaine
Blaine Oelkers is a lifetime entrepreneur, a graduate of Purdue University and Stanford University’s Entrepreneurship program. He’s achieved over 100 Million dollars in sales and has coached 1000s of business owners. He’s America’s Chief Results Officer® (CRO) helping business owners and their companies get results. He can be reached at blaine@selfluence.com.
Blaine is America’s Chief Results Officer® and the world’s greatest creator of doneness. He knows your results matter and he can help you get better, faster and more long-lasting results. Get started with one simple and elegant results technique that activates your mind with your top goal over 100 times a day. He explains it in a short TEDx talk he did which has been viewed by over 120,000 people! Your results matter – get access immediately at www.BlaineTEDx.com