Phones have become the first thing people wake up to and the last thing they see before they go to sleep at night. And during the course of the day people constantly interact with their phones as ways of meeting new people, communicating with the people they know, streaming their favorite forms of entertainment, and navigating. But smartphones are taking away from the world around them a lot more than people realize because of how much they use their phones and the convenience they possess. The smartphone apps are taking away from physical interactions people use to have in their everyday life which helps cognitive abilities. People no longer have to go to the bank to deposit and withdraw money, as they can now keep their cards on their phone and send pictures of their checks to the bank. People are no longer going to actual stores to buy clothes and food because they can instead have it shipped to their front door with a simple tap on their phone. Material things such as tickets to the game and boarding passes are also no longer required as phones instead hold these things and allow people to only have to carry their phones with them. Maps and guidebooks are also disappearing with people using their phones instead and even hailing a cab is no longer necessary with pick-up apps.
People are facing difficulty in finishing their work because of the distractions they are constantly being faced with. Notifications from phones are taking people away from their work which is not allowing them to complete their work but also lowers the quality of it. They instead focus on their phones to answer messages or check their online status on things such as social media. But Adam Gazzaley and Larry D. Rosen list ways in which people can put down the distractions and stay focused on their work. One way is by using software that allows tracks their time on social media and other distractions so people can manage their time better. Also people should limit themselves to one screen. They should also work in a quiet environment to avoid distractions. And when working on a computer people should only keep tabs open that are meaningful and contribute to the work they are doing so they are not tempted to click on outside links and ads that will diver them from their work. Most people have difficulty staying focused on work because it bores them, but if they try standing instead of always sitting at their computer they could find themselves staying engaged in their content.
People have been spending more and more time on their phones as addiction to them has grown. People are wasting time on their phones but are also having mental health problems as a result of their phones. Jillian D’Onfro lists a couple of ways though that people can stay off their phones. People can set timers for when they can actually go one to check their phone and can increase the time increments between checks as they go along. Turning off notifications may also help people to check their phone less and not go on apps that are trying to seek their attention away from what they are doing. Removing distracting apps from the home screen can help people to consciously make a decision before opening an app because they have to swipe to it. The same can also be said for deleting apps and having people type in the sites they want to visit on the web browser. Phones should also be placed away from the bed so people aren’t reliant on them before they go to bed and when they wake up in the morning.
Newport describes an ideal world as one where deep work is both celebrated and accepted, which can help to open the door for the Eudaimonia Machine. This work environment would help people to maximize the output effort of their brains, but unfortunately the world seems to be stalled at only a distracting environment, in which instant messaging is prioritized above deep work. The key to developing a deep work habit though is to move away from intentions and establish set routines and rituals. This will require less willpower to start working and keep going according to Newport. Therefore, deep work should also be made a priority. People just need to convince themselves that there is a way that they can integrate deep work into their lives and schedules. It may not be the same for everyone, so each person has to find the one that best fits them. They can maximize their deep work by eliminating or minimizing other obligations they may have. The bimodal philosophy approach means they can divide their time by dedicating certain stretches of time to deep work and leaving the rest open as they please. Another approach is the chain method in which they start deep work sessions and then transform them into a regular habit.
