I’ve come to the conclusion that my phone is not only a jab in the side of my productivity, but it may also be its saving grace. This morning I posted on facebook and tweeted that i would attempt to use my phone for all my personal communications. Some of you asked why.
First, I spend way to much time on twitter and facebook for my job, which makes it easy to get wrapped up in it for my personal use. Add that to the fact i got a fancy new android phone and you have a recipe for a super fun lifehacking experiment.
So here is my plan. I will attempt to use my phone for ALL personal communications in the next two weeks. Except, when I’m home. When home, I’ll use it for all communications when I’m not working at my computer. Sounds easy. Except, I’m a creature of habit, and a keyboard ninja (not my title, a co-worker said i was), and I’m at a computer for 8 to 12 hours a day, even on weekends. I also work on my computers with only about 50% - 60% mouse time. I use the keyboard to launch apps, navigate menu’s, switch apps and well, to type words. Like these. So when I want to check twitter, I hit a key stroke that launches my twitter app, and I use the keyboard to navigate and reply. Making it VERY easy to be auto pilot and just hit it. Next thing I know, its been 15 min and I’m still tweeting from my computer. And not working. Now add facebook and email, and you can see how quickly my productivity drops. Not to mention how this is affecting my productivity train. More on that later.
So what happens when I want to get something done. Well, I simply place my phone face down. If I don’t see the notifications, then I don’t get wrapped up in it. If I’m on facebook or twitter on my desktop, then I’m doing it for work. If I’m on my phone tweeting way, or catching up with friends and family on facebook, then im leaning back, standing or away from my desktop. Simple. Doing this adds a physical disconnect from work and personal stuff. Not just a separate log in, but a complete physical change.
I encourage you to try the same (obviously if you have a data plan), and see if you become more productive. On a related side note, today while doing this, i felt less creative. I felt like i couldn’t get into the grove of my work… But then again, it was Monday.
