Take BACK Control

In today's world, smartphones have become an indispensable tool for communicating with people; a key pillar of building a sustainable business. However, here’s the reality. Some people (mentioning no names!) prioritise their phones over their success and here’s an even bolder claim… Their families.?

Picture this. You’re at a restaurant surrounded by loved ones and yet your attention is divided, glancing around you notice endless people engrossed on their phones, scrolling social media, checking notifications seemingly unaware they're wasting precious time with the people who should matter the most to them. I like to call this ‘The Distraction Contraption’. If you truly want to become successful in life then it’s vital that you master the art of controlling your smartphone and not let it control you!?

We will take a deep dive into the significance of regaining control over your device, shifting priorities and seizing the opportunities that come along with changing for the better, so let’s get started:?

Step One: The Balancing Act

Living day to day completely avoiding your ‘distraction contraption’ is just as impossible as it is impractical, the key is striking just the right balance between leisure time on your phone and the time you should be spent working. Failing to find this balance creates an almost unbreakable toxic relationship filled with streams of pointless pings and dings pulling you away from your day's objectives.?

Remember, the human brain was never designed to function in such a fast-paced manner constantly shifting from task to task or app to app. In fact, the results of this are more often than not dangerous: low energy, bad sleeping patterns, lack of productivity and most importantly negative effects on relationships with friends and family.?

Step Two: The Attention Economy

Time is quite literally the most important currency on earth. Let me put it this way. We all have 24 hours in a day but simply by wasting one hour a day, you lose 22 days over the course of a year. Imagine what could be done in that time, you could learn a new skill, start a business or maybe just spend it with those who matter the most to you. Whatever it is, I can promise you that it is more beneficial and life-giving than scrolling endlessly through TikTok or Instagram.?

The truth is social media thrives on grabbing your attention, the longer they keep you scrolling, the more ads that can serve you and in turn the more money they can stuff in their pockets. As I’ve heard many times before, “If you’re not paying for the service, then you’re not the client - you’re the product.”?

Step Three: Regain Control

Now, before you throw your phone across the room and swear off social media entirely you should consider the following:?

Implement app blockers (that actually work), you shouldn’t download one that lets you on right after the tap of a button. Instead, you need one that will keep your app locked for up to 2 minutes so that you can allow time for dopamine levels to fall again after that notification popup. I highly recommend Opal - I currently use this and have found it useful.?

Another strategy is what I like to call scheduled focus hours; these are hours in which you turn off your phone and have power sessions for around 20-30 minutes where you can solely focus on completing a set task/objective.?

A fun game me and my friends do when we go out to a restaurant is to put our phones face down in the middle of a table, and then the person who touches their phone first will pay for the bill. You’ll notice a profound change in the importance someone has on their phone now. Suddenly, no one cares what they’re missing out on and instead appreciates the company they are surrounded with.?

Step Four: Seize Opportunities

The ability to focus is one of the most critical skills you can cultivate in order to better your day-to-day experience; Once you succeed in doing so, it’s time to seize opportunities that come up that others will pass up on. Ultimately, you have one life; so you need to make sure it counts, and if you spend your time effectively then one is all you need. Don’t let anyone steal your time away from you.?

I hope you have found this valuable and I wish you the best in overcoming the battle between yourself and the distraction contraptions out there! Until next time, live daily.