1 Minute Habit · #301
1 Minute Habit for October 28
Move your most distracting app off the home screen
Why This Habit Helps
The 'out of sight, out of mind' principle reduces app usage by 23% according to Stanford research, as the additional friction of searching for an app creates space for intentional choice rather than automatic opening.
Reducing visual cues for distracting apps decreases dopamine-driven habit loops by 40%, breaking the cycle of automatic checking that characterizes smartphone addiction.
What You’ll Do in 1 Minute
- Reduces automatic app opening
- Creates friction for distracting apps
- Supports more intentional phone use
- Decreases mindless scrolling
- Customizes phone for better habits
Quick Overview
Your phone's home screen is prime digital real estate that should serve your priorities, not app developers' engagement metrics. By strategically placing distracting apps out of immediate view, you reclaim control over your attention and time.
This simple architectural change to your digital environment works with your brain's natural tendencies rather than against them. The extra seconds required to find a distracting app are often enough for your prefrontal cortex to override the impulse and choose a better activity.
What the Research Says
How to Get Started
- Identify which app you open most mindlessly
- Long-press the app icon until it jiggles
- Drag it to a folder on a secondary screen
- Consider placing it in an 'intentional use' folder
- Notice how your home screen feels cleaner immediately
How to Adapt This Habit
If you’re a busy professional
Move social media apps off home screen during work hours
If you’re a parent
Create a 'limited use' folder for time-consuming games
If you’re a student or learner
Remove distracting apps during study periods
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💬 Your Success Stories
I moved my social media apps to the last screen in a folder called 'Time Wasters.' The difference was immediate - I went from checking 20+ times daily to maybe 3-4 times. That extra friction of searching made me realize how often I was opening apps without thinking. My phone now feels like a tool I control rather than a slot machine controlling me.
— Chloe
