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Organizing Technology
Ding…buzz…ring…beep
Constant reminders aren’t always good
by Maria Gracia Join our newsletter to be notified when the newest Organizing Technology is available. Ding…Buzz…Ring…Beep…the noises from our devices are sometimes good reminders, and other times, constant interruptions. They interrupt our work, reading, projects, meetings, time with friends, family activities, sleep, and more. It takes an average of 20 minutes to regain the concentration we lost. Worse, they can cause dangerous distractions. If you are driving 55 mph, in the five seconds it takes you to read a text you will have covered the length of a football field while looking at your phone instead of the road. How do we say no? • Stop “Push” notifications. When you download an app, there is often a notice asking you to allow push notifications. Click “no.” You don’t need most of them, especially from social media or shopping sites. • Put your phone on silent mode. On most phones, doing so is simple as clicking the silent option. You may choose to leave it on vibrate if you are expecting an important call so you can discretely check if you feel the vibration. Just remember that even vibrate mode can be noisy and distracting. A loud, vibrating phone in a meeting or yoga class can create a rude distraction. • Use “Do Not Disturb.” Many phones have this setting. You can silence calls and texts from everyone, or allow from selected contacts. This is particularly useful at night when you are trying to sleep. • Check in periodically. To ensure you don’t miss an important notification, at scheduled times throughout your day, check in and handle anything that needs attention. • Safety first. If you feel you must check a notification while you’re driving, wait until you’re pulled over to a safe location and your car is in park. Saying no to these notifications may feel strange at first, like you are missing out on things, although you are probably not missing anything vital. Plus, you may even end up feeling less stressed. Your devices should be there to help you; not control you. Back to Organizing Technology Index
By Maria Gracia - Get Organized Now!™
Copyright 1998 - 2022 Get Organized Now!™
611 Arlington Way, Watertown, WI 53094
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Back to Organizing Technology Index
Organizing Technology
Ding…buzz…ring…beep…
Constant reminders aren’t
always good
by Maria Gracia Join our newsletter to be notified when the newest Organizing Technology is available. Ding…Buzz…Ring…Beep…the noises from our devices are sometimes good reminders, and other times, constant interruptions. They interrupt our work, reading, projects, meetings, time with friends, family activities, sleep, and more. It takes an average of 20 minutes to regain the concentration we lost. Worse, they can cause dangerous distractions. If you are driving 55 mph, in the five seconds it takes you to read a text you will have covered the length of a football field while looking at your phone instead of the road. How do we say no? • Stop “Push” notifications. When you download an app, there is often a notice asking you to allow push notifications. Click “no.” You don’t need most of them, especially from social media or shopping sites. • Put your phone on silent mode. On most phones, doing so is simple as clicking the silent option. You may choose to leave it on vibrate if you are expecting an important call so you can discretely check if you feel the vibration. Just remember that even vibrate mode can be noisy and distracting. A loud, vibrating phone in a meeting or yoga class can create a rude distraction. • Use “Do Not Disturb.” Many phones have this setting. You can silence calls and texts from everyone, or allow from selected contacts. This is particularly useful at night when you are trying to sleep. • Check in periodically. To ensure you don’t miss an important notification, at scheduled times throughout your day, check in and handle anything that needs attention. • Safety first. If you feel you must check a notification while you’re driving, wait until you’re pulled over to a safe location and your car is in park. Saying no to these notifications may feel strange at first, like you are missing out on things, although you are probably not missing anything vital. Plus, you may even end up feeling less stressed. Your devices should be there to help you; not control you. Back to Organizing Technology Index
GON ORGANIZING TECHNOLOGY
Copyright 1998 - 2022 Get Organized Now!™
611 Arlington Way, Watertown, WI 53094
