Our smartphones have made us addicted. It is a fact. Some are now trying to get away from it. Without going so far as to buy a simple mobile phone, you can make your smartphone much less smart and attractive.
The smartphone is disrupting our daily life. We have become slaves to these gadgets. It’s all ours and more. Some people know it’s good to distance themselves. Without going so far as to become a recluse, a simple cell phone can help. But maybe that’s a little extreme. Why not just make your smartphone less smart then? It’s pretty easy. Here are some tips and tricks on how to achieve this.
Start from scratch by rebooting your device
You don’t have to wipe the whole phone to do this, but it helps a lot. A factory reset lets you start from scratch, without all those apps that have accumulated over the years. Do not restore any backup either, you will lose all interest in manipulation. Just make sure your important data and files are backed up and then restore manually.
You can reset iPhone by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Depending on the Android manufacturer, the procedure may vary slightly, but this option can be found in the Settings app.
Make as many apps disappear as possible
Whether you’re starting from scratch or not, feel free to delete apps from your device. Social apps, for example, are especially harmful. Keep them as far away from your phone as possible. A good rule of thumb is if you can’t enjoy it on a regular phone, don’t download the app.
But social apps aren’t the only ones to blame. Get rid of anything that might distract you. And also draw in native applications.
If you can do it in a browser, you don’t need an app.
Similarly, don’t download an app if you can do it in your browser. Web apps often offer a less successful experience than through a mobile app. This way you will be less tempted to continue. Plus, web apps don’t bombard you with notifications.
If you’re trying to avoid the internet in general, ban yourself from using the mobile app and web app of a particular service.
Hide your browser
To use your phone without the Internet, hide your browser. It is impossible to completely remove the browser, but you can hide it from viewing.
On iPhone, you can disable Safari via Settings > Screen Time. Make sure Screen Time is turned on, then go to Content and Privacy Restrictions. Turn on the toggle, select Allowed Apps, then click the button next to Safari, and iOS will hide the browser on your device.
On Android, you can disable Chrome via Settings > Apps & Notifications. Tap Chrome, then Disable.
Turn off notifications
Notifications are the biggest distraction. To no longer be, be aggressive with them. Call notifications and other SMS are needed, of course, but you can do without the rest. If you want to know if you have alerts in an app, open the app yourself. Disable as many notifications as possible, you will immediately see the effect.
Simplify your home screen
When you unlock your iPhone or Android, you need access to essential features while limiting potential distractions. Simplify your home screen as much as possible. As a last resort, you can leave only the Phone and Messages apps. Of course, there are many other things that can be useful in everyday life, such as a camera and a navigation application. Or notes and a wallet.
Switch to black and white
The screens of our smartphones are very large and specially colored. It helps to attract us. To make it less attractive, desaturate it. To do this, on Android, go to Settings > Accessibility > Text & Display > Color Correction and select Grayscale. On an iPhone, this is in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters. Click the toggle and select Grayscale.
Use the themes to your advantage
Themes for smartphones are not only for self-expression. Like grayscale, you can use them to make your phone less attractive. This Reddit user, for example, turned his iPhone into a goofball with a very minimalistic black and white interface. It’s simple and very effective. Follow the instructions to achieve the same result.