I’m a big fan of new year’s resolutions. The process of self-evaluation and awareness, deciding which path to move and taking action to be better. It’s like a great examination of the conscience and confession cycle.

One thing that’s increased my anxiety and stress while decreasing my attention and presence is my phone. I was actually fairly disciplined around my phone coming through Exodus 90 multiple times but it continued to plague me. So I decided to make a long term change on how I manage my phone… or how I let my phone manage me 🙂 Attached is the list of items I changed.

List of 5 steps.

1. Delete all non-essential apps. What’s non-essential? What’s a need and what’s a convenience?

I need communication.

Convenience is the rest.

2. Internet and all other apps that can be accessed via my laptop I can make a list and access it at a different time.

3. In an emergency, it would take 2 minutes to download the app if needed and solve the one time issue.

4. Turn down all usage timers to limit the use or provide notification of high use.

5. Have one app to take notes of all the “To Do’s”. Then when you get to your laptop, the list can work on the cloud and it’s in front of you.

How has this played out?

• I need my phone for communication. Phone, text, and email. 7 apps total with work communications included.
• Work apps, not included in the workplace communications app I had 5 apps associated with work, Microsoft office and apps that provided convenience to look at work at all hours of the day. I noticed that this increased my work outside of normal hours. Those hours increased anxiety and the value produced in those instances was low. I decided that if I need to pull up spreadsheets I would open my laptop and commit and engage. Or in an emergency, it would take 1 minute to download the app I needed and solve the one time issue.
• I consolidated all music and podcast apps to one and limited my time.
• All banking, stock and finance apps I removed due to security and based on issues above. In case of emergency, read #3.
• All social media removed.
• All food or restaurant apps removed. ($$) saved about 50 just in 2 weeks.
• All commerce apps removed. I actually removed them in 2019 and can say I saved approximately $3200 without the one-click at my fingertips.
• All random apps removed, language learning, programming, books, budget planning, weather, news
• I keep Strava for tracking my rides and fitness…more of a GPS.
• I’m down to 43 apps on my phone which 19 can’t be deleted. 22 leftover.

I previously averaged a total phone use per day of 6 hours with work calls and such 3–4hrs. on the weekends. Now I’m done to 1.5–2 hours per workday and 1–1.5 on the weekend. Some of that is music or podcast time so that’s a little deceptive.

I’m more streamlined on my “To Do” list. I hit that list as soon as I get on my laptop and knock it out. It always feels good at the end of that list. Previously I would accomplish one thing then “click” I’d wake up on some random website reading news and distracted. The list helps me stay focused 90% of the time. I used the app https://evernote.com/ it’s free but has some great paid products.

I hope something here helps. I feel better.

Cheers Brothers.