App Purge
The average American checks their phone every 12 minutes.
That's why we're going to even further limit your potential for being distracted by your phone.
Why it's important
It's far too easy to mindlessly collect apps that we don't need.
They take up vital space in your subconscious and distract you from focusing on the things that matter.
By having an endless array of content at your fingertips, you are always moments away from distraction.
How we'll do this
We're going to review all of the apps on your phone and delete any which aren't for communication or utility.
From now on, think of your phone like a tool belt rather than a TV. Only pick up your phone when you need it to do something useful rather than when you want to be entertained.
Your single action
Review all apps on your phone and delete anything you can.
When you have an app on our phone, you're carrying around something that has the ability to distract you at any moment throughout the day.
That's why you should be intentional about the apps you decide to keep on your device.
Categories of Apps to Delete
The types of apps you should delete include:
⛔️ Social Media Apps
- Examples: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok
- Why: You can keep your social media accounts, but instead check them intentionally when you're at a computer rather than at the dinner table.
⛔️ News Apps
- Examples: CNN, NYT, Washington Post, Fox News
- Why: It's far too easy to get sucked into the latest breaking news when our time would be better spent focusing on events more relevant to our actual lives. Check the news at your computer, or with your phone's browser, but remove the apps.
⛔️ Video Apps
- Examples: YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBOMax
- Why: Video apps have become a pacifier for our small moments of boredom throughout the day. From waiting in the lobby for an appointment, to keeping us entertained while we go to the bathroom. Remove these apps and experience the beauty of small moments alone with your thoughts.
⛔️ Games
- Examples: Candy Crush, Clash of Clans, Call of Duty Mobile
- Why: Mobile games expertly suck up our time and our money. Removing them from your phone eliminates this possibility. If you really enjoy gaming, consider moving your games to a tablet, PC, or dedicated console. This way you will only game when you intentionally decide to play rather than throughout the day.
Categories of Apps to Keep
The types of apps you should include:
✅ Communication
- Examples: Messaging Apps, Videocall Apps, etc.
- Why: Phones were designed to help us communicate with each other, and they are still great for that.
✅ Utility
- Examples: Ride-sharing Apps, Food Delivery Apps, Calendar Apps, Travel Apps, Mapping Apps, To Do Apps, Web Browser
- Why: Keep any useful apps that are transactional - meaning that you'll open them when you need them. These apps have a low risk for stealing your attention.
✅ Non-Attention-Stealing Media Apps
- Examples: Kindle, Audible, Spotify, Podcast Apps
- Why: Apps for reading, listening to music, or podcasts can enhance our day, and can even help us learn. These apps aren't as hyper-stimulating as games, social media, or video apps, so they aren't likely to draw you away from other areas of focus in your life.
Tip: It's also easy to reinstall apps anytime, so you can always experiment with deleting more than you feel comfortable with and re-downloading apps later.
Course Progress
