Does your phone need a rule of life? I’m guessing: probably. My iPhone certainly does. Our phones distract and consume us four, six, probably eight hours a day. That’s not a force for good in any life.
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
In recent years, so many crises have happened on a daily basis that my phone notifications got out of control. My iPhone thought some things were urgent … the death of a celebrity, the score of a ball game, the latest insanity from Washington … that I could do nothing about. I decided to turn off my phone notifications.
I remembered that my parents learned about each day’s world developments from Walter Cronkite and the evening paper. So I decided to follow the same time frame. I read my day’s email, which included news, in the evening. At least I try to do that.
My entire iPhone Rule of Life addendum is a “try to.” It does give me good direction on when I am using my phone as a tool and when I’m using it as a crutch.
| 7 a.m. | Check the weather. |
| 7:30 a.m. | Use Insight timer for morning prayer |
| 8 a.m. | Use calculator to check cash flow. Scan email for items impacting day’s plan. Check mail and packages due that day. |
| 8:30 a.m. | Listen to ebook or podcast during chores and cleaning. |
| 9:30 a.m. | Use yoga or physical therapy app. |
| 10 a.m. | Play praise music when dressing. |
| 11:30-1 pm | Use prayer apps. Use game or puzzle apps. |
| 3:30 p.m. | Use relaxation or prayer apps. |
| 5:30 p.m. | Read email and social media. |
| 9 p.m. | Watch YouTube videos on designated nights. |
| 11 p.m. | Use prayer apps for examen and night prayers. |
| After meals | Record calories and protein in Lose It! App. Add activities to habit tracking app. |
Can you see how even using the phone as a tool makes it a distraction? Even restricting myself results in hours of phone use a day.
I am continuing to fight scrolling. It’s an addiction that only the Lord (AKA my higher power) can help me to resist one day at a time. Once I turned off my phone on Sabbath. That changed when I got a job that demanded I allow 24/7 access to me. I’m retired from that job now. But I still haven’t turned off the phone on Sabbath. I pray that I can do so soon.
Do you need a rule of life for your phone? I would love to see it if you have one. If you’d like help in developing a rule of life, click here.