The Cost of Productivity?

Due to my affinity for finding solutions through technology, most assume that I’m having to constantly track a tsunami wave of notifications… that the cost of productivity is needing constant connection. But I want to reassure you that the right types of tools, and the right settings/rhythms ensure that you can track every task, document every note, schedule every appointment, and by doing so have MORE TIME to be with family, living life, and just enjoying the fresh air.

So a deluge of digital demands is not the cost of productivity. In fact, the opposite is true; by avoiding good technologies there will be a cost. So if you want more time, then follow these 3 tips… let’s start with what I think is the most novel concept.

1) Access On Lock Screen 🔒

If you seldom have to open your phone to get what you need, then you won’t get distracted. Did you know that you can customize your Lock Screen and Control Center (pull down from top right) to get access to pretty much everything!?

Let’s look at mine…

The trick is using the in-phone Shortcuts App to create the custom buttons that you need.

• Open Shortcuts App

• Hit “+” in top right

• Type in whatever app you’re looking for

• If you’re wanting a shortcut to ask for a typed input each time, then you want the “Search query” to be the option: “💬 Ask Each Time”

2) Limit Notifications 🔔

If you limit notifications to what is ACTUALLY MEANINGFUL, then you’ll get less of them, and they’ll be easier to sort through. And once again you’ll be less likely to be distracted. With more meaningful notifications you’ll be able to interact with what is needed via the Lock Screen.

• 1️⃣ Scan through your Lock Screen/Notification Center - Jot down everything that is unnecessary.

• 2️⃣ Scan through your Home Screen(s) - Jot down every red-dot that is meaningless.

  • Also delete any app that you don’t need anymore.

• 3️⃣ Hop into Notifications in Settings - Start turning things off/customizing as needed.

• 4️⃣ Create Focus Modes - So you get the right types of notifications throughout the right phases of the day/week.

3) Have the Right Tools 🧰

None of this works if you don’t have the right apps/systems to begin with. Once you have the right tools with the right notification settings, you can input what’s needed and then move on with your day. The base level tools that everyone needs are:

1. Task Manager - For things to be done.

2. Calendar - For events that need to be scheduled.

3. Note System - For information that needs to be documented.

You need ONE GOOD TOOL for each of those areas, it’s easy to use the in-phone options (Reminders, Calendar, Notes). I personally use Actions, Calendar (regular Apple Calendar), and Notion.

TOP PICKS 🌟

Want more tips and resources? Here are deep-dives provided in earlier T+P Issues!

📱 Anatomy of An Organized Phone
📱 Focus Modes
✅ Anatomy of a To-Do List
🗓️ Anatomy of a Calendar
🗒️ Anatomy of a Note-System
📧 Anatomy of an Email Inbox

ℹ️ Product links in this newsletter are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty - Proverbs 14:23