Turn Off Notifications

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Turn Off Notifications

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Another day went by, and you spent your whole day scrolling on social media while laying on your bed. You might look back and think, “What did I do today?” Most of us have projects and activities that we would like to do someday, but for some reason, someday never comes.

Are you still telling yourself that you don’t have time? It’s not that we don’t have time—we don’t make time. And if you’re thinking that you don’t have time, I highly recommend you check your screen time and track what you’re spending your time on.

How much time are you spending on social media for meaningless scrolling? If we could stop spending time on social media absorbing unnecessary information and use this time for the things that matter, don’t you think we’d be in such a different place?

So rather than getting bombarded with irrelevant information, I think now is the best time to say no and focus on what matters. This video is inspired by the book *Make Time*.

 

Turn Off Notifications

The first tip will be to turn off your notifications. You know notifications are made to steal your attention because they are designed for that. As an app developer, think about it—of course, you want your users to spend more time on your platform so you can make more money.

Rather than getting bombarded with notifications and getting distracted while studying or working, I highly recommend turning them off. If you don’t have notifications, you might not think about those apps as often. Notifications act as reminders for you to open the app, giving you a reason to use it.

I turned off all my notifications except for iMessage and WhatsApp. Even on WhatsApp, I turned off all group chat notifications except for my family group because I live in another country, and if something necessary happens, I want to be informed.

Check your WhatsApp, iMessage, and all your groups. If they’re unnecessary, turn them off. Also, on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Snapchat, or whatever social media platform you use, turn off all notifications. They’re just begging for your attention.

 

Increase the Friction

The second tip is to increase the friction. The more friction there is, the harder it becomes for you to do that act. Unlocking your phone and opening your favorite time-sucking app is, unfortunately, really easy.

To prevent spending time on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or whatever, the best thing is to increase the activation energy. I recommend using an app called *One Sec*, which was recommended to me by my close friend Izzy.

This video isn’t sponsored by One Sec or anything—I’ve just been using it for a couple of days and really liked it, so I decided to show it here. With the One Sec app, if you set it up (which is super easy), it forces you to take a deep breath before using social media. It also asks you whether you want to continue using the app.

Sometimes, I find myself autopilot-opening Instagram without thinking, even without notifications, because it became a habit for me. But since I have the One Sec app, it makes me pause and think, “Do I really need to scroll right now? Is there any reason for me to open this app and waste my time?”

This little pause helps me become more mindful. It might feel annoying at first, but that’s the point—it’s designed to be annoying before you open the app. This increases the friction, making it harder to scroll mindlessly.

Another free way to increase the friction is by deleting the app after every single use. If you want to use it again, you’ll have to re-download it. This extra step makes it less convenient to open the app, and it helps reduce unnecessary usage.

 

Don’t Check Your Phone While Working

Tip number three is don’t check your phone while working. For that, I recommend using apps like *Forest* or any other focus-type apps. Forest on iPhones isn’t free, but I think it’s free on Android and PC.

Another great feature on iPhones is the *Do Not Disturb* mode. My phone is always on Do Not Disturb mode. The great thing about this feature is that you can customize it. For example, in my settings, if someone calls me twice, I’ll get a notification the second time. Also, if someone from my favorites (like family members) calls me, I’ll still get the call even in Do Not Disturb mode.

This way, I don’t worry about missing important calls, especially since I live abroad. It reduces distractions without causing anxiety about missing something urgent.

 

Track Your Screen Time

Another tip is to track your screen time. Look at your screen time at the end of the day or the week—it’s easy to check on iPhones. It shows how much time you’ve spent on each app.

Analyzing your screen time helps you give yourself honest feedback. Sometimes, we don’t realize how much time passes while using these apps. But seeing the numbers makes it easier to visualize where your time is going and understand what changes need to be made.

 

Find an Accountability Buddy

Tip number five is to find an accountability buddy. The best way to solve any problem is to have someone who can support you. Trying to do something alone is always harder, but knowing you’re not alone makes it easier.

You can make it fun by sharing your screen time with friends and competing to see who uses their phone less. For example, whoever spends the most time on their screen could pay $5 to the other person, buy them coffee, or something similar.

When you make it a game or challenge, it becomes more enjoyable and less like a chore.

 

Leave Unnecessary Platforms

The last thing you can do is leave social media platforms that you find unnecessary. I’m considering leaving Instagram for about 45–50 days. As a creator, I make money from it, so I’m weighing the pros and cons.

However, when I compare the value I get versus the time I spend, it doesn’t always feel worth it. Don’t be surprised if I release a video saying I’m quitting social media.

Being more mindful and creating real connections in real life is becoming more important, especially after COVID. I’ll share another video if I decide to leave social media and see how it impacts me.

 

Final Note

For those who want to make more time and spend less time on social media, I highly recommend the book *Make Time*. It offers 87 tactics to help you take control of your time.