You Don’t Need to Throw Away Your Phone to Focus

We all know our phones are designed to keep us hooked. From social media to notifications, it's easy to get sucked into endless scrolling and waste a lot of our precious time if we are not careful.

But what if I told you that you don't need to ditch your phone to reclaim your focus and time?

Fortunately, modern smartphones come with built-in features to help manage distractions without going to extremes.

In today’s newsletter, I’ll share three built-in features you can use to stay focused on your phone, and the best times to use each.

Here are three simple inbuilt features you can start using today to reduce your screen time and boost your productivity:

1. Focus Mode
↳ Your phone stays connected to the internet, but you get to choose which apps can send you notifications.
↳ Set a timer for it, or toggle it on and off as needed.
Focus Mode lets you mute notifications from specific apps while still allowing access to the ones you need. This feature is perfect for when you're working on something important and only want essential apps to get through, like email or a project management tool.

2. Do Not Disturb Mode
↳ You'll still have access to the internet, but all notifications from every app are silenced.
This mode creates a distraction-free environment by blocking all notifications, calls, and messages. It’s great for those moments when you need to concentrate on deep work or a personal project without being tempted by pings from other apps.

3. Airplane Mode
↳ Disconnects your phone from the internet and shuts down all wireless communication.
↳ Only apps that don't need an internet connection remain usable.
Airplane Mode is the ultimate "all distractions off" switch. By completely disabling internet access, it ensures that only offline activities—like writing or reading—are possible, freeing you from the pull of the web.

How I Use These Features to Win Back My Time

These modes are highly customizable, and the key is using them strategically to fit the task at hand. Here's a quick breakdown of how I prefer to use them:

✅ Document editing → Airplane Mode
↳ When I'm working on a document or writing, I switch on Airplane Mode. I don’t need the internet for these tasks, so this keeps all online distractions at bay.

✅ Using ChatGPT → Do Not Disturb Mode
↳ While using ChatGPT or researching online, I use Do Not Disturb Mode. This way, I stay connected to the internet but block all other notifications, so I can focus fully on my session.

✅ LinkedIn engagement → Focus Mode
↳ When I'm on LinkedIn for networking or professional growth, I set Focus Mode to block out all other social media apps. This helps me avoid distractions from Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube, while still allowing productive app usage.

Take Back Control of Your Focus

You don’t have to get rid of your phone to stay productive. By using these three modes—Focus Mode, Do Not Disturb, and Airplane Mode—you can cut out distractions and get back hours in your week. Try them and see how much time you can save!