Once I started practicing deep work, I made strict rules for not using my phone before 12 pm. Even as I am writing this, although my phone is off and in my backpack, I can feel its seductive presence. It’s too easy for me to reach out for it. So this system is based on willpower and it’s doomed to crash once my emotions feel more strongly toward texting rather than deep work. An interesting study reference from Indistractable:
“The mere presence of one’s smartphone may impose a ‘brain drain’ as limited-capacity attentional resources are recruited to inhibit automation attention to one’s phone, are thus unavailable for engaging with the task at hand.”
I would add: “Not only the visual field but also field of perception, meaning what you perceive as being available”. The take-away is: Do not have your phone in your field of view and perception, because the brain will be working hard to ignore it. Make it too hard for yourself to get it.
Relevant Posts:
Deep Work | Real Edu
Forrest App | Plant trees by not using your phone
Deep Focus | Real Edu