Life is a constant juggling act. One of the most persistent, and perhaps annoying, balances we have to deal with these days is managing both our digital life and physical one. They've become so intertwined, that sometimes it's hard to tell where one ends and one begins. And sometimes, that can be really overwhelming. If it feels like your phone, emails, apps, or notifications have taken over your life, you're not alone. And if your New Year's resolution this year is to better manage that craziness, you're also not alone.
Luckily, with a few tweaks to your daily habits, you can ease stress and regain control.
This year, show your phone (or your email... or your email-induced insomnia) who's boss. With these tips, you can achieve total zen with your digital obligations. It's really not as hard as you might think!
Turn Email Checking Into An Event
You don't have to quit checking email, or even achieve inbox zero to reduce the stress it causes in your life (although if you want to, here's how). Instead, resolve to check your email a certain number of times per day, at specified times. Maybe it's once in the morning, and once at 5 p.m., or maybe your inbox requires attendance three or four times per day. The point is to transform email from something that's constantly nagging your attention to something you attend to regularly and periodically — like any chore.
Set A Timer
To accomplish this new email checking habit, you can set an alarm to remind you when it's time check your email. You can also set a timer so you only spend a certain amount of time on the task. We recommend bouts in the 15 to 30 minute time frame, but if you limit your inbox perusal to just once per day, you may want to allot up to an hour.
Banish Disruptive Notifications
That 2 a.m. email from your coworker? You don't need that interrupting your ZZZ's. It can wait till morning, and you'll have better ideas to contribute if you've had a solid night's sleep. Ensure unwanted notifications don't wake your slumber by turning on Do Not Disturb.
You can set specific hours (we've set ours from 12 to 5 a.m.), and within that time frame, any calls or alerts that arrive while your phone is locked will be silenced. If you're worried about missing something important, you can switch on Repeated Calls. If a contact calls twice within three minutes, the second call will come through — so if your S.O. or BFF is actually in a late night bind, you can still come to the rescue.
You can also turn on Do Not Disturb manually. This is perfect for important meetings, movies, or if you're having dinner with friends or family and don't want to be distracted.
Vibration Alarms
Adding another gadget into your life doesn't have to add complication. A screen-free wearable such as the Misfit Shine 2 (pictured) or the Jawbone UP can be a fantastic way to disconnect from your phone screen, without disconnecting altogether. Chief among their benefits are vibration notifications and alarms. On the Shine 2, you can set various LED or vibration alerts for different types of notifications or contacts. This lets you know what's happening in the digital world, and then you can choose whether to check your phone screen right then, or wait till later.
Both devices also offer a gentler way to wake up. Since they track your sleep, they can wake you up at the most amenable point in your sleep cycle during a specified time frame each morning. Waking up with a gentle wrist vibration is a much nicer way to start the day than a blaring alarm.
Ditch The Late Night Glow
Sleep is incredibly important to your overall well-being. And one of the easiest ways to interrupt your circadian schedule is by shoving a super bright phone or laptop screen in front of your face. Avoid looking at your phone right before bed, and ideally, you want to avoid looking at bright screens for several hours before bed in order to maximize sleepy vibes each night.
But If You Have To...
All right, you have to check your email one last time before bed. But, you can do it in a way that is less disruptive to your sleep cycle. You can use an app such as Twilight (free on Android) or Koala (free on iOS) to filter out the blue light from your smartphone screen. Blue light has been linked to poor sleep in a number of people because it suppresses melatonin, the hormone that helps you feel sleepy when it starts getting dark. These apps try to mask your phone’s natural blue grow with a reddish hue, which is less disruptive.
At the very least, you can head to Settings and switch on night mode on your iPhone. This will minimize the brightness of the light shining on your face as you’re trying to hit the hay.
Stop Worrying About Charging
If you can't concentrate on the fun happening around you because you're too preoccupied with phone battery life, it's time to slap on a charging case. Mophie's Juice Pack Air (available for multiple different phone models) or Apple's Smart Battery Case will do the trick. They're perfect for long, busy days when you won't be at your desk much, or even weekend trips so you don't have to bring a tangle of cables.
Really, Really Stop Worrying About Charging
When you're out and about enjoying the world, or spending valuable time with loved ones, just switch on Airplane Mode. Unlike Do Not Disturb, which merely silences notifications, Airplane Mode helps save your phone's battery life by switching off its Wi-Fi and cellular radios. The messages sent when you have Airplane Mode on will be delivered to your phone once you toggle it back off. On day trips or vacations, this can help you save on your monthly bill, while keeping you in the present. Combined with a battery charging case, you can go epic lengths without needing to hit up a wall socket.
Ditch Face-In-Phone During Family Time
If you have an Apple TV, you can turn tasks that would normally require you to duck behind a smartphone or computer into a living room-friendly event. There are a variety of apps that fall into this category, including GrubHub, Airbnb, and Gilt. You can even take turns playing games such as Crossy Road onscreen, or use your phones as controllers to play a multiplayer game together.
Resolutions were made to be broken. This year, want to help you do you — the best you can. Check out more right here.
Squeeze Meditation Into Your Day (On Your Time)
So, you're finally at peace with your gadgets. Ready to take your newfound zen to the next level? Make your tech work for you, and use an app such as Sattva or Headspacey (pictured) to fit some meditation into your day. These apps offer relaxing melodies to help you find your personal zen, and will guide you through the meditation process. You can squeeze in a short session in the mornings, after work, or even at your desk in the middle of the day.
Resolutions were made to be broken. This year, want to help you do you — the best you can. Check out more right here.
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