Are you finding that technology is not always the time-saver in your life that you would like it to be? While I love that I can check my emails on the go, snap pictures of anything and everything, and can even set reminders reminding me to brush my teeth on time (I’m kidding about that one), what I don’t love is that technology can also become a supersized time thief. This is especially the case when I’m not careful and deliberate in how I use my time surrounding my technology.
To circumvent the reality of minimizing my time when it comes to technology, I’ve discovered five foolproof ways to organize technology in order to help maximize my time. In better organizing how I approach my technology usage, I’m able to create more time for the more important things in life.
Foolproof Ways to Organize Technology
#1 – Fewer Apps
Delete apps from your phone and/or devices that aren’t benefitting you. While it can be convenient to check on things throughout your day, it can also easily become a distraction, keeping you from the things you need to be focused on. A great way to check your app usage (on your iPhone) is to go to the settings app, select battery, and scroll down – it will list the amount of time you’ve spent on different apps including the number of actual hours if you click on the clock button.
#2 – Washi Tape
Minimize confusion of whose phone charger is who’s or whose headphones belongs to whom, by using a different colored Washi Tape for each family member and then coordinate their Washi Tape color with their devices. Labeling things individually will mean less hunting around and make it less likely that the wrong pair of headphones will be snatched during the morning rush.
#3 – Do Not Disturb
Using the lovely “Do Not Disturb” feature on your phone or device is a great way to put boundaries around your time. Use this feature intentionally to help safeguard those hours in which you want to dedicate to your more focused and meaningful work or activities. You do not have to be available 24/7!
#4 – Device Basket
Create a device basket in your home that can be used to collect devices when they don’t need to be being used. Silence the alerts and ring tones to help minimize interruptions. Using a tool like this helps all of us (parents and children alike) to remember to set down our devices from time-to-time.
#5 – More Scheduling
Whether it is checking your email or looking at your social media accounts, commit to establishing some time frames around these activities. You’ll be more productive if you set up parameters for how often you focus on these tasks. Deliberately close applications that are prone to causing you disruption and only allow alerts that are helping you to stay on track with your time management and commitments. Setting a timer to check things at specified times versus checking every five minutes, will help you to save time and be increasingly productive.
Follow these five foolproof ways to organize your technology and you will find the benefit of more time and less distraction. Say yes to less!
And, guess what starts Monday? The Summer Organizing Challenge! This is a FREE challenge that will help you to better organize your home in only 10 minutes a day. The challenge provides you with three project options each day for 10 days. The goal is to set a timer and organize in only 10 minutes a day. You can see all of the info on the Organizing Challenge Page. There is even a free printable if you want to help organize your daily organizing! This is one of the best ways to get a little reorganizing reboot before the next season. I’ll also be posting the daily OC options on the MWM Facebook page, be sure to follow if you like FB reminders.
Happy Organizing!
