All these notifications that pop up on our phone can sometimes be too much–pings from Facebook, twitter, email, food delivery, etc. They can cause us to lose focus, and become distracted and unaware.

The average person checks their phone 85 times a day. That’s crazy, especially given that fact that 10/15 years ago, these smartphones did not even exist. Every 15 minutes, your mind wanders away from what you were doing, and gravitates towards your phone. If you’re driving, working, or spending time with your family, this can quickly become a serious problem.

Even when our phones are on silent, we are still conditioned to check our phones every now and then. There is increasing evidence showing that phone notifications lead to decreased productivity and concentration, and increased distraction at school and work. Frequent notifications can also cause you to feel more stressed to respond immediately. Nowadays, some people get frustrated when they don’t get an email response within 15 minutes.

How can we change? This process is similar to quitting smoking or losing weight. It can take some time, and serious behavioral changes, in order to see permanent change.

Start by turning off all non-essential notifications. Some of the below may help as well:

  • Charge your phone overnight in a room other than your bedroom. You will fall asleep more easily and wake up more focused.
  • Interrupt yourself when you get the urge to check your phone. Next time you get the urge, ask yourself how this will benefit you, and if it’s really needed.
  • Create a schedule. Focus on what you are doing for 25 minutes, then reward yourself by checking your phone for a minute or two. Repeat this cycle, and gradually increase the length of time between rewards.

Following these tips can help you stay more focused, concentrated, and present, on the things that matter most to us in life. That notification from Amazon can surely wait!

 

Sources:

Horwood, Sharon. “Constant App Notifications Stress Your Brain, but You Can Get Back Your Focus.” ScienceAlert, https://www.sciencealert.com/constant-app-notifications-stress-your-brain-but-you-can-get-back-your-focus.