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Let’s talk about your phone habits. It may not be a pleasant topic to discuss, but it does matter. How you use your phone can have a huge impact on your life and on your business.

Sounds dramatic? Not at all. These mini pocket-sized computers are with us all the time and the constant flow of notifications can interrupt our workflow incessantly.

Your mobile habits significantly impact your concentration span. Notifications can disrupt your mental flow, jarring you out of your productive zone and diverting you from what’s important.

Your effectiveness depends largely on your ability to make sound decisions, solve problems, and foster creativity. Constant phone interruptions and distractions will adversely impact this.

The relationship between humans and their phones, and particularly to social media, is complex.

Social media platforms and other apps are designed to dominate your attention. This is the essence of the attention economy – a world teeming with content, where your focus becomes a precious commodity to be harvested.

The nature of our technology poses a challenge, but we can counteract these issues by setting boundaries around phone use to increase our efficiency tenfold. Here are three strategies to consider:

• Turn off notifications
  The first step to regain control over your focus is to switch off all unnecessary notifications. This allows you to decide when to engage with your phone, instead of reacting instantly to every alert.
• Avoid using your phone first thing in the morning
  Establishing a phone-free morning routine can set the tone for a more productive day. If the first thing you do in the morning is mindlessly scroll through various apps, it can induce unnecessary stress and hinder your productivity throughout the rest of the day. Consider getting an old-school alarm clock to avoid grabbing your phone first thing when you wake up.
• Set boundaries around app usage
  If you find yourself spending an excessive amount of time on certain apps, it might be time to set some restrictions. Look into digital wellbeing apps to monitor and limit your daily usage. If you’re having trouble adhering to these self-imposed limits, consider more drastic measures like blocking access to specific apps.

How you manage your phone usage can drastically affect your productivity. By setting sensible boundaries and being mindful of your phone habits, you can carve out the necessary mental space to make sound decisions.

So, here’s the challenge: turn off any unnecessary notifications, enjoy phone-free mornings, and limit or block the apps that distract you the most.