Follow These 5 Steps to Make Your Phone Work For You, Not Against You

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We can all agree that smartphones divide people like few other devices can. On the one hand, we have those who praise the smartphone, claiming it’s the best invention of our era. But, on the other hand, we also have the camp of people who ridicule the smartphone, claiming it does nothing more than turn us into zombies with no social lives.

Here is the thing, though:

Both camps of people are right because your phone’s benefit or harm depends on how you use it. Your phone isn’t this evil device that wreaks havoc on your health, sleep, and social skills. It’s simply a tool with many functions.

Because of that, we should look for ways to improve our smartphone use rather than trying to eliminate it from our lives. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the 5-step process for turning your smartphone into a device that boosts your health, productivity, and well-being.

Here are 5 steps to make your phone work for you (don’t skip any of these).

1. Get Clear On What You Care About

The first step to turning your smartphone into a positive influence in your life is clarifying what that would mean for you. We are all different, so there isn’t a single formula that would work great for everyone.

For example, one person might want to become the best family person they can be, spend more time with their kids, and help their spouse each chance they get. Another person might not be that interested in the family but could instead seek to build a career and make a name for themselves.

2. Spend Time And Energy Where It Matters

Based on what you value most, you can evaluate your smartphone use and if it aligns with what you care about. For example, you might seek professional success, but spending countless hours on social media each day means there is a clear disconnect between your wishes and actions.

This step requires a fair bit of objectivity, and it might be challenging for you to take an honest look at your behaviours and make the necessary changes. But, the step is essential, and the only way for you to change the narrative is to understand if you’re spending your time and energy on what matters most.

Remember that saying yes to one thing means saying no to numerous others. So, each time you choose to waste time on your smartphone, you’re saying no to work, family time, and other things you might care about.

3. Align Your Phone Use With Your Values

It’s probably safe to say that your current smartphone habits don’t align with your values. We aren’t here to judge because any efforts to improve your life are worth admiring.

An excellent way to start using your phone more productively is to ask yourself the following questions:

How is my phone a positive influence on my life right now?
In what areas does my phone get in the way of my values?
Is my phone always the best tool I can use for specific tasks?
Are there instances where your phone and values align right now?
As a whole, does your phone help you do what matters most, or does it get in the way?

Answering all of these questions might take you some time. You might even have to take out a piece of paper and do some writing to come up with objective answers for each inquiry. For example, you can take out a blank piece of paper and brainstorm all the ways, big and small, in which your phone is currently beneficial in your life.

4. Set Some Simple Rules For Your Phone Use

Taking your time during step three is essential because it will provide you with all sorts of valuable data you can use to get actionable. For example, let’s say that, while answering the second question from above, you came up with the following answers:

My phone gets in the way of my family time in the evening.
My phone stops me from having a productive morning routine.
My phone takes up my entire lunch break.

Having these answers written down can help you develop some simple boundaries for your phone use to prevent it from getting in the way. In this case, one simple thing you could do is put your phone on Airplane mode as soon as you get back home from work. That way, texts, emails, and social media won’t get in the way of you spending time with your spouse and kids.

Another thing you can do is use a basic alarm clock to wake up in the morning and keep your phone in another room, out of sight. Doing so can stop you from reaching for your phone first thing in the morning and wasting valuable time.

Another example here might relate to your answers to question three. For instance, let’s say that you’ve been logging your workouts inside an app on your phone, but that’s often led to wasting time on social media, checking email, and replying to texts. As a result, your workout quality suffers. Well, what if you could log your workouts inside a simple notebook or log and leave your phone in the locker?

5. Acknowledge and Celebrate Your Wins

Each win, be it big or small, represents a step in the desired direction. Whether you’re looking to build muscle, break a bad habit, or re-establish a connection with a childhood friend, the small wins push the needle.

You don’t have to reward yourself for every win you get but acknowledge the small steps forward. For example, each time you resist picking up the phone for no good reason, take note of the fact.

You can also pick up the habit of journaling for a few minutes in the evening. Include a point about your smartphone use and write down up to five things you’re proud of. That way, you remind yourself of your wins each day, and the journal feels like an accountability partner that expects updates from you daily.

Coach Michael

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