Recently I got myself an app that tracks how much time I spend on my phone.
It’s a nifty little app.
And that information is insightful, as it makes me more mindful of how I'm using my time and how much of my time is spent on my phone. It also helps me reduce the amount of time I spend on my phone.
However, that's not the real reason I got that app, that's just a coincidental bonus.
The real benefit of the app lies in its ability to lock the use of other apps. Thanks to that app, now I can only access certain apps on certain days and times of the day, and some apps only for a predetermined amount of time.
This cuts down the amount of time I spend on email, and a game that recently had me a bit hooked.
This way, I don't really need to exercise my willpower and will myself to stay away from certain apps at certain times.
The app does that for me.
That leaves my willpower mileage available for more important things, rather than using it up prematurely and on insignificant things.
Since our willpower has limits, the less we use it, the more of it we have available to use on important things, things like working on an important goal, looking after our health and so on.
This tactic can help you make willpower effortless when it comes to limiting your phone or tablet use, because you won't need to rely your willpower much, if at all.
This is yet another small way technology makes life easier, and simpler.
What is draining your willpower, and what can you do about it?
Think smart,
Salek
P.S. When it comes to thinking smart, one of the best (yet counterintuitive) ways to do that is by asking stupid questions. To learn why that is, and how it helps, listen to this talk > Five Reasons Why It Is Good to Ask Stupid Questions