Our phones are amazing – we can speak with people on the other side of the world with barely a delay. We can order our shopping, check our emails, take crystal-clear photos and bring up a map for anywhere in the world in seconds. That said, they can bring a lot of stress and anxiety too. Between running out of charge while you’re stuck on public transport, and those screens that seem to crack if you look at them too hard. Although there aren’t any apps that can help with that, here are some websites, apps and tips to help your phone feel a little more stress-free.
Find out who called you
Is there anything more terrifying than picking up a call when you don’t recognise the number?! Unknownphone.com gives you the ability to search for a phone number and see what other people are saying about it so you know whether it’s worth giving them a call back, or whether you’ve had a lucky escape. They have also developed their own app called CallBlocker which automatically blocks the most dangerous phone numbers in your country.
To make sure that you’re not getting constant calls from telemarketers, you can sign up with The National Do Not Call Registry which is a free FTC service that is easy to sign up for and will make sure that no one is allowed to call you from a telemarketing company. Political groups and charities may still call you, but it’s a good start.
Organise your tasks
Most phones have pretty good basic reminder apps, but if you’re particularly busy, you might benefit from something a little more complicated. If you run a business from your phone you could use something like Asana or Plutio to keep everything organised in one space, without having different apps for different things. Especially if you also need to delegate tasks, send invoices and keep track of projects. Why use four average apps when you can find something that does it all?
Notifications
If you find that your phone is going off constantly and it’s disturbing your peace, or stressing you out, there are several options. Most phones have settings where you can turn off notifications for some apps (do you really need your Words with Friends game sending a push message every day?!) or turn off any notifications after a specific time so that you can get some downtime before bed.
Get some zen
When things do feel a little too much, take a moment to do some mindful meditation or a yoga class with a wellness app. There is plenty on offer that will encourage you to get your body moving and quieten your mind, from the comfort of your own home, even if you don’t have the time to get to the gym.
Remember, your phone is supposed to make your life easier, and if it is stressing you out – whether that’s from nuisance calls or constant notifications from apps you don’t even use, there are always ways around this.