

I can’t tell you how many times a calendar notification has saved me from being late to an appointment or missing it altogether. The digital calendar is vital for maintaining structure. Invariably, they do, and then you can get it done. Additionally, this tool allows you to forget the little things that need to be done and trust the task to pop up on the list at the right time. This tool creates structure around the things that need to get done, tracks them, alerts you (though I don’t use notifications), and is an excellent reference for ideas and future tasks. If a task is on the list, there is an extreme probability I’ll get it done, even if it’s crappy things like cold-calling, detailed work, or setting up a meeting that I don’t want to attend. My to-do list weapon of choice is Todoist. The creator of the Getting Things Done method has said, “Your mind is for having thoughts, not keeping them.” His perspective may be a bit extreme, but it’s the idea to get rid of the stupid stuff and trust the structures you’ve put in place to help you accomplish things. Now that you’ve done that, below are tools and processes to help you be successful with accountability. Reference the list above and turn off those notifications. These distractions prevent you from more effectively using the powerful tool you carry around every day. Right after, he said he felt 5000 pounds lighter. After asking if I was serious, he hesitantly said okay, picked up his phone, and deleted the app. I then challenged him to delete it right then and there. I said, “Can you delete the app?” He said, “I guess so.” I said, “What can you do about this?” He wasn’t sure. When we were having this conversation, he was in his car using his phone. He runs a 9-figure real estate business, and the distraction felt like “10,000 pounds” on his shoulders. I recently had a conversation with a client who was very distracted by his Facebook app. Now, if you can help me rid myself of my YouTube and Netflix addictions, I’ll be set.īefore you move on to the specifics about this habit, be bold and turn off as many notifications as possible. Otherwise, no other notifications are happening on my phone. That’s it! A few of my apps have badges only if they have a message feature. The only notifications on my phone are my text messages, phone calls, and calendar alerts. With the Structures part of the Accountability PASS, you are taking back control of your habits, primarily how you use your phone. The statistics do not make phones bad, but we need to be wise in how, when, and why we use our devices. The statistics show that 66% of us are addicted to our phones. If you want to be present, stay self-aware, be highly accountable, and keep growing, consider turning off as many notifications as possible. Some business owners have even turned off text notifications or Whatsapp notifications.

We all know watching the news is a painful experience and should be consumed in limited amounts. Missing a social media or game ping isn’t going to change your life. You’re going to check your email (you’re probably addicted), you’re going to check the scores, and you’ll listen to your favorite song or podcast. If you are honest with yourself, you don’t need these notifications. Read through this list of notifications you don’t really need. Most of these will occur in the middle of your working day creating a constant interruption to your workflow.īefore you read more about this habit, if you’re like most entrepreneurs, you probably could go without a few notifications/alerts on your phone. If you are awake for an average of 16 hours a day, this means you will receive 2.5-3.75 notifications every hour.

Here’s what some of the statistics say: the average smartphone user gets between 40- 60 push notifications every day. But as a warning there are some statistics you need to know and some steps you should take to most effectively use this tool for accountability. Your smartphone is the most straightforward tool to create structures to maintain accountability. The idea here is to “construct or arrange according to a plan give a pattern or organization to.” This definition of Structures helps keep yourself, your team, your business, and your life in order and as structured as YOU desire.
