Our work smartphone is proof that there can be too much of a good thing. Everyone knows that we should be spending less time checking our phones but that doesn’t stop us. The work smartphone, designed to improve productivity and bring us closer, has now become an addiction driving people apart.

Even those who know that they should cut down on their work smartphone usage may not know how to go about it. If not used well, a work smartphone can easily turn from a productivity enabler to the biggest source of distraction. Here are five steps that you can take to ensure that you have a healthy relationship with your work smartphone.

How to develop a healthy relationship with your work phone

1. Decide what you’ll use the phone for

A good work smartphone should have a specific role assigned to it. It could be to take calls from team members, clients or customers. It could also be to check your WhatsApp Business at specific intervals. This is why it makes sense to have an additional number exclusively for work.

But it shouldn’t be to repeatedly check your email, social media apps or anything else that would distract you.

2. Use it only during working hours

Consider your work smartphone as an office assistant that you’ll only use during stated working hours. You should communicate these to your team members and your clients. If they want to contact you during after-office hours, they should do it through email.

Don’t take your work smartphone when you’re with your family or friends. So, what happens if your clients or customers call? With a second-line app, they would get an auto-reply explaining why you can’t take the call and when you would be able to get back.

3. Delete non-work-related apps

Sorry, all your social media, news, music, video, streaming and e-commerce apps have to go. They’re not in any way related to your work and only stand in the way of getting things done. If you still want to access those, you can do it through your laptop. But the added effort might be just enough to deter you.

If you work from home, you already have enough distractions to deal with. The last thing you want is to be interrupted by your phone repeatedly.

4. Track your screen time

There are several apps that will tell you how much time you spend staring at your screens. They will also tell you how you use your phone – whether for productive purposes or as a distraction.

We can assure you that you’ll be surprised to know your screen time the first time you use a tracking app. When you see those actual numbers, there will be a strong incentive to keep down the phone when not needed.

5. Turn off all notifications

You might have the best number for your business and only work-related apps. But if you constantly get notifications, you won’t be able to focus on the task at hand.

One of the most effective ways to detach yourself from your work smartphone is by turning off all notifications. Now, you’ll be using the phone and not the other way around.

In short

Even the best of things should be used in moderation. Of all the things, your work smartphone is what it most applies to today. With these tips, you should be able to restrain your unhealthy attachment to your work smartphone and use it productively for work instead.