7 Tips for a Distraction-Free Smartphone

[@TheWisdomOfOdin]

I have been keeping my phone in greyscale for awhile now. I have been fascinated by the light phone but because I travel often it doesn’t make sense. Greyscale on iPhone gives me the same feel without needing to fully commit to the e-ink

[@spencers-adventures]

That’s a great point! At different points I’ve used greyscale and it is certainly a helpful way to make the phone a little less enticing. Thanks for sharing!

[@jirkajindra11]

Greyscale for daytime, red filter for nighttime (you can set a shortcut for both on iPhone), with the Blank widget and Burnout Buddy app combo. Unfortunately I need to keep my smartphone for work purposes, but this way I managed to decrease my screen time from 2,5h/day to 20-30 mins/day. On weekends, I leave my smartphone in a drawer and use a basic Nokia for calls and texts. And I`m loving it! Great video Spencer, and a great community here!

[@likesgood]

@@jirkajindra11 I was going to say - this greyscale 99% of the time except when colour needed and also - instead of DND a custom dnd makes it so you can literally make your home screen only your needed apps, or not text/phone/whatsapp (work ) /email on a second screen and hide every other screen - so you would have to take off your custom mode. which you can make dnd except one person if you have an important call/caller or work but otherwise customise everything. i'm pretty hardcore my phone is on a custom mode that is like DND plus - but can't say my friends are as understanding as yours :)

[@Mrromikusus]

Point 6: Spencer, you don’t have to call back twice, try adding verified contacts to your favorites in the phone app. That’s exactly what I did and I’m living just fine :) + in the “do not disturb” mode setting, you can specifically indicate which contacts can get through the first time (for me this is a girlreind, mom, and employer), the rest cannot get through by default. Also, the iPhone has a “silencing unknowns” setting - no one can call me if this number is not in the phone’s contacts. Thank you for the video, greetings from Russia :)

[@spencers-adventures]

Good point about the verified contacts, that’s something I should do for sure. But the thing about silencing unknowns is a HUGE tip. That is so helpful, I’ll definitely set that up! Thanks for sharing - glad to hear you enjoyed the video!

[@oleslaw22]

The best thing you can do on an iPhone is to disable all connections: WiFi and mobile data. It’s a toggle in the menu you swipe down from the top. This is great because it conserves your battery, and every time you want to use the internet, you have to intentionally enable the connection.

[@YogiTheBearMan]

On iPhone go to settings-privacy-analytics and turn stuff off. Then settings-privacy-Apple advertising and turn that off. Settings-privacy-tracking turn off allow apps to request to track

[@buckyyyb]

Just did this! Thank you!

[@AlexT0210]

I recently got into the world of IEMs (in ear monitors) and I'm surprised at how popular DAPs such as the iPod and other players are becoming again. Big tech sites are even writing daily articles on the best ones. Kind of cool. Shows how we are not just compromising our privacy and simplicity with our phones, but also quality (DAP > Spotify, paper map > Google, digital camera > camera app). Regarding notifications, its helpful not to turn off notifications entirely, but disable them by default and turn on for the most important apps. For me the only ones worth having on are phone, messages, calendar, youtube, and twitch. Maybe amazon or uber eats if you do deliveries. Feels much better like that. Also: 8:00 screenshot of the cringiest folder on my phone bruh stahp

[@spencers-adventures]

IEMs is something I need to look more into myself - I think that’s the next step for me. Any specific ones you recommend? 100% with you on that point about compromise with multi-use devices like phones. True master of nones compared to the single-use alternatives

[@JerryKosloski]

I've been using a DAP for a little over a year, and it's been great.

[@etherealdread]

@@spencers-adventuresFor really cheap but great, 7HZ Salnotes Zero

[@genmaicha_]

​@@spencers-adventuresthere's plenty of budget options, look for well reviewed options from brands like moondrop and 7hz i personally rock a moondrop kato but that's rly pricy so try the 7hz zero or perhaps the moondrop aria

[@AlexT0210]

@@spencers-adventures I just saw this comment. As for specific IEMs to begin with, I would recommend 7hz Zero:2, Moondrop Chu II, Simgot EW200, Truthear Hexa. For the price and for bass tuning I really liked the Zero:2 (7hz x Crinicle) after trying a few.

[@simonrockstream]

fantastic video Spencer, always happy to hear you share your thougths and experiences

[@drawingjac]

All good ideas! I think the best focused multi-use device is the smart watch. You can’t get lost in it and most apps are just simple and to the point to make the most use of the smaller screen and processing power. Use an LTE version and mirror to a focus mode on your phone to never miss an important call or message from your favorite contacts. Your smart phone then becomes more intentional. My screen time dropped from 3-4 hours to 38minutes daily average!

[@spencers-adventures]

Wow that’s a huge drop in screen time, very cool! A few of my friends at work have smart watches and they for sure do pick their phones up less because of them. Definitely an interesting tool. Thanks for sharing!

[@aati]

Many phones have power saving mode. It saves power limiting background processes and the apps you can use. With Samsung it's 4 default apps (phone, messages, web browser and settings) and 4 apps of your choice. You can change them, but first you need to disable other one and the enable the new one. It's annoying to do often so you end up having 4 actually useful apps in those slots.

[@potatoking8759]

You can set a no distraction mode on the iphone to block notifications but allow calls. You don't have to exclusively use the do not distrub sleep mode.

[@spencers-adventures]

That’s a good tip, thanks!

[@YogiTheBearMan]

Firefox ftw 3:02 I go ahead and delete the brain poison apps from my phone, I use an iPad or PC when I want to use those apps 7:20 Great video

[@spencers-adventures]

Love the iPad method! It’s tough using PC for some of these apps since certain features aren’t possible unless on mobile. The iPad allows distance while still keeping those apps accessible when needed. Good tip buddy!

[@chadsshow2010]

I like the 7th tip. I plan to take off the brain poison from my phone and only using them at home. Hope to download music and podcast to an unused phone with out the brainpoison and use that like an ipod. Put Airplane mode on that too. Guess what. I started journaling again and it has been great. Wrote to my 18 year old self and what to look forward to in the future. Pretty cool. 😊

[@spencers-adventures]

Glad to hear you enjoyed the video buddy! And that’s awesome that you’re into journaling too - thanks for the comment!

[@chadsshow2010]

@@spencers-adventures awesome. thanks been enjoying learning much as i am off work for a little while. Aloha.

[@ambiarock590]

Ive removed those Brain Poison apps like reddit and instagram form my phone entirely. Dank Pods turned me onto the dark side of collecting iPods and this was before I came across this channel. I have actually been using iPods as my music player and I love carrying it around with me. My 6th gen classic is even decked out in fun colors

[@zen_k4i]

On my S24 I use Niagara Launcher - it has an option to turn app icons into little colored dots - based on the actual icons. Takes away a lot of the "pulling" ability of them. I feel that Niagara is the minimal/distraction-free setup heaven.

[@spencers-adventures]

That’s a very interesting idea! Hadn’t heard of it but I’ll for sure check Niagara out!

[@grantschilb8019]

Niagara is amazing. I have no web browser on my phone, and I also have no app store, and I just feel way more present now. I was able to set my background to black and the icons to a minimal neon theme. I only have essential apps on my homescreen (Phone, Apple Music, Messages, Mail, Calculator, Maps, a 2FA app, and a Bible). Also, I still use an S21 ultra (old phone at this point), and I found Niagara to run much faster than One UI. My phone runs good as new, and is way less distracting (no more doomscrolling).

[@jontydalton178]

I definitely recommend keeping the phone screen set to grayscale. On iPhone, you can map this to a triple click of the sleep/wake button. You can also set up automations so that apps where you require colour (e.g. photos) open in colour, and revert to grayscale when you close out of them.

[@rockonhero3611]

2:04 Just for clarity. You have to allow location access for map apps to work. Without GPS on, you can’t be navigated

[@spencers-adventures]

True but you can still download the maps to get a sense of direction, you just won’t have the point marked where you are 👍

[@RetroEdUK]

Really insightful video Spencer and upon watching it last night prompted me to change a view of my settings. I’m not currently brave enough to go full on airplane mode but perhaps one day I will be haha. I’ve turned off a tonne of notifications and hidden loads of apps within folders. So far so good; it’s Day 1 😄. Have a goodun.

[@spencers-adventures]

I’m glad you enjoyed it Ed! Yeah the airplane mode is for sure a hardcore move. I don’t do it too often myself but it’s certainly an effective way to disconnect if you find your phone very distracting. Hope you’re well buddy!

[@Henkibojj]

I'm not sure if I'm counterproductive for you, but in case you need (or "need") to watch a KZbin video, put it in 2x speed. Might feel like brain rot for some but it does make you spend less time on your phone - provided you do not use that time to watch another video, I mean. Some tutorials or infovideos just take too long to get to the point.

[@bassa8333]

I was using youtube reVanced to get rid of comments, community posts and shorts. It was great untill youtube killed it :'(

[@Just-aGuy]

it didn't get killed, you just need to update it every once in a while

[@FullaEels]

Silencing notifications has been my default for years, the sounds irritate me easily

[@adamwragg4606]

Brain poison is a great name for that folder 😂 I don't think I can do most of this though. I love having my tabs open but I feel I'm too addicted to Facebook tbh for the groups, it's a constant battle 😂 I don't wane to miss on any nice toys or games that coke up for sale 😅 The vpn are quite expensive aren't they? Mainly why I haven't got one yet

[@buckyyyb]

You definitely *can* do it. It’s hard, not impossiblez

[@buckyyyb]

this is rather sad sounding. You *can* do it, it’s just hard, not impossible. I have Nord VPN I think? Not sure what one, but it’s free.

[@adamwragg4606]

@@buckyyyb it is but it's the life of a collector at times 😅 I do need to spend less time on it though I know that

[@spencers-adventures]

Glad you like the Brain Poison idea lol! VPNs can be pretty cheap if you pay for longer term plans. I think month to month Nord is like 17.99 but for a 3 year plan is $2.99, something like that. So if it’s something you think you’ll use for a long time the longer term plan is better!

[@adamwragg4606]

@@spencers-adventures haha! I do. I didn't know they did payment plans, I might have to look into it.