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- I made my phone ugly to fix my addiction
I made my phone ugly to fix my addiction
Here's the 30-second setting that saved me 2+ hours daily
Hey there,
Your phone shouldn't be stealing time from your family and personal life.
I get it - as sales professionals, we're tethered to our devices. Client calls, urgent emails, and team messages demand constant attention. But after finding myself mindlessly scrolling through apps for hours each evening instead of being present with my family, I knew something had to change.
Today, we’ll review a simple phone setting that will help you:
Break free from compulsive phone-checking (reduced mine 32% week 1)
Reclaim hours of lost time each day
Stay focused on high-value sales activities
Bonus: New referral program (get access to the 8 tools I use every day)
Let's dive in.
In partnership with:
Start your week smarter than the competition: 3 curated stories in under 3 minutes about the Staffing Industry’s biggest moves, deals, and strategic shifts, delivered every Monday at 10 AM EDT
3 Steps to Break Phone Addiction With Grayscale Mode Even if You're "Always On"
The secret to breaking phone addiction isn't willpower - it's making your device less appealing to your brain. Here's how to do it:
1. Understanding the Psychology
Colors trigger dopamine releases in our brains, making apps and notifications irresistibly engaging. App designers know this and deliberately use vibrant colors to keep you scrolling.
By the numbers:
205: Times the average American checks their phone daily (once every 7 minutes)
80.6%: Americans who check their phone within 10 minutes of waking
22-50 minutes: Daily screen time reduction when using grayscale mode
37.9%: Screen time reduction in college students using grayscale
The science is clear: By switching to grayscale, you remove the psychological hooks that drive compulsive checking behavior.
2. Setting Up Grayscale Mode
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size
Scroll down and tap "Color Filters"
Toggle "Color Filters" on
Select "Grayscale" from the options
Add Grayscale to Accessibility Shortcut by going to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut and selecting "Color Filters"
Now you can switch on/off Grayscale with 3 clicks of the Sleep/Wake button (right side of iPhone)

Have an Android? Here’s how to set it up.
3. Strategic Implementation
Don't go cold turkey. Start by activating grayscale during your most important family time blocks (dinner, bedtime routine, etc.). It will prevent you from getting sucked into mindless scrolling.
That's it. Here's what you learned today:
Color plays a massive role in phone addiction
Grayscale mode creates natural "friction" that reduces impulsive phone use
You can easily toggle between color/grayscale based on your needs
The key is implementing this TODAY. Don't wait for "someday" to reclaim your time and attention. Take 2 minutes right now to set up grayscale mode - your family will thank you.
P.S. If you happen to work in the staffing industry - check out 📶 Staffing Signals - Start your week smarter than the competition - 3 curated stories in under 3 minutes about the market's biggest moves, deals, and strategic shifts, delivered every Monday at 10 AM EDT
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