{"id":62447,"date":"2017-10-09T11:15:11","date_gmt":"2017-10-09T15:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=62447"},"modified":"2021-09-18T05:54:06","modified_gmt":"2021-09-18T09:54:06","slug":"iphone-hacks-boost-productivity-stat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/tech\/iphone-hacks-boost-productivity-stat\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Genius iPhone Hacks to Boost Your Productivity"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: Twenty20<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re reading this in the palm of your hand, it\u2019s probably tough to remember the days you weren\u2019t tethered to your iPhone. But when it comes to smartphones, there\u2019s a fine line between \u201cuseful tool for getting things done\u201d and \u201call-mighty controller of your entire life.\u201d And if you prefer the former, then it\u2019s time to reassess your technology habits<\/a>. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve tapped four tech experts for their best-kept iPhone hacks to ensure your device boosts productivity<\/a> \u2014 instead of harming it. We\u2019ll double tap to that.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong>\u00a08 Signs You\u2019re Way Too Stressed (and How to Deal)<\/a><\/p>\n

10 Easy iPhone Hacks to Boost Productivity<\/h2>\n

1. Define what \u201cproductivity\u201d means to you.<\/h3>\n

\u201cIn my view, productivity isn\u2019t simply about getting a lot of things done,\u201d says Peter Bregman, CEO of <\/span>Bregman Partners<\/a> and author of <\/span>Four Seconds: All the Time You Need to Replace Counter-Productive Habits with Ones That Really Work<\/em><\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s about getting the <\/span>right<\/em> things done. The only way you know if you\u2019re getting the right things done is if you\u2019re thoughtful about what it is that\u2019s most important to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve identified that, ask yourself, \u201cHow can my iPhone give me traction in what I care about most?\u201d Bergman says. For example, if your priority is spending time with your kids, set a special ring on your phone that\u2019s different for your kids than anyone else. That way you\u2019ll know to prioritize those calls.<\/p>\n

2. Schedule everything \u2014 even the obvious.<\/h3>\n

Bregman is teased for scheduling lunch dates with his wife on his calendar, but he insists there\u2019s no better way to lock in what matters most. \u201cIt might seem weird, but you\u2019ve got to put that stuff in your calendar,<\/a>\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s a tremendous amount of evidence that says if you decide when and where you\u2019re going to do something, then you\u2019ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

iCal, Gmail \u2014 choose whichever works best. And factor in which will sync best with your work calendar, or shared calendars with family members. Getting everything in one place will save you extra headspace.<\/p>\n

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3. Get picky about your apps.<\/h3>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t download an app without having a need first,\u201d says Peggy Duncan<\/a>, Personal Productivity Expert and Founder and Lead Trainer at The Digital BreakThroughs Institute. \u201cFigure out what you need to do while on mobile, then find the app that\u2019ll help<\/a>. [Then] group similar apps using broad categories. This works better than app overload.\u201d Duncan\u2019s favorite functional apps include: PDF Converter for converting documents to PDFs; Copier for copying and pasting text from various sources to use later; and Duet Display for using the iPhone as a dual monitor with a laptop while traveling.<\/p>\n

4. Keep an uncluttered home screen.<\/h3>\n

\u201cThe best way I\u2019ve found to minimize distractions on my iPhone is to keep the home screen as lean as possible,\u201d says Michael Simon<\/a>, a Staff Writer at MacWorld. Much like Duncan, he\u2019s discovered the power of minimizing the number of apps across his entire device. \u201cI used to have hundreds of apps in folders across multiple pages, but these days I try to keep things limited to the apps I absolutely need,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd if there\u2019s one that’s sucking too much time, I\u2019ll just delete it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"iPhone
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Let your phone hold your thoughts \u2014 so you don\u2019t have to.<\/h3>\n

\u201cMost people have their iPhone with them virtually all the time, so it makes a handy tool for externally capturing what’s on your mind,\u201d says John Forrister, a\u00a0Utility Player at the David Allen Company. “Don’t discriminate \u2014 big ideas or small, they should be quickly captured in some version of a digital inbox where you can decide if there’s action later. You can send yourself a quick email, use an app that sends you email, or put them in the \u201cinbox\u201d of your list management app,\u201d Forrister says. \u201cThe key is to make sure they land in some type of an inbox that you will go through within 24 to 48 hours, so your mind can let go of the tracking job.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>3 Guided Meditations for Productivity, Sleep and Cravings<\/a><\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Only do work on your phone that works well on your phone.<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cYou can be more productive by noticing what you like to do on your iPhone, and what you don\u2019t like as much,\u201d says Forrister. \u201cYes, there\u2019s an app for almost everything. Even so, there are some things that are easier on a bigger screen, or two bigger screens. If you\u2019re doing something that feels like more work than it needs to be, consider switching to an activity that fits the iPhone screen and interface better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Distinguish between \u201cemergency scanning\u201d versus organizing emails.<\/h3>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s tempting to look at email on the iPhone when you\u2019re away from your computer,\u201d says Forrister. \u201cQuickly scanning to see if something time-sensitive has shown up can be productive<\/a> if it allows you to communicate or handle work now that would take more effort later.\u201d<\/p>\n

What that doesn\u2019t mean? \u201cGoing through each email in your inbox, deciding if it\u2019s actionable, adding that action to a list, then filing or deleting the email,\u201d Forrister warns. \u201cIf you know that an email is not timely, and you know that you\u2019re not going to fully clarify its meaning and organize it in your system<\/a>, don\u2019t spend your time on it until you are ready to process it to completion\u2026 Be smart about whether you want to do that on the iPhone or back at your computer.\u201d<\/p>\n

8. Sync your phone with other devices.<\/h3>\n

\u201cI always have my iPhone with me, so it needs to be loaded with everything I need to get things done, both on the phone and in sync with my other devices,\u201d says Simon. \u201cOutlook, Gmail and Slack are a must, but my secret weapon is iA Writer. I have it installed on my Mac, iPad and iPhone. And with Dropbox integration, I can jump to one of my Android phones or my Chromebook too and pick up right where I left off. It\u2019s the first app I install on any new device I get.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>The 9 Best Apps for Guided Meditation<\/a><\/p>\n

9. Get familiar with your iPhone\u2019s \u201csecret\u201d functions.<\/h3>\n

The iPhone comes equipped with a variety of tricks that most people don\u2019t even know about. That means you might be missing out on enhanced functionalities as a result. Here are a few of Duncan\u2019s favorite functions:<\/p>\n