Everyone wants a job in high school for that extra cash mula.

Thinking back to my high school days, I was juggling vocal training, mixed martial arts, hanging out with friends, and trying to manage homework after school. Amidst all this, I still wanted to get a job at the new Walmart.

I needed money— for what, I'm not sure.

After filling out the "availability" portion of the application, I looked at it and threw it out. No way would anyone hire a sixteen-year-old with two hours of availability per week.

But this taught a lesson in priorities.

If you know me, I tend to pursue many rabbit holes: I’m a creative at heart. Maybe it's my Achilles heel, but I once heard that sometimes you have to drink the poison until you figure out how to turn them into the antidote. Dark? Maybe. But hey, here I am, trying to turn my poison into an antidote.

In today‘s society, it doesn’t get easier with phone usage and distractions. A plethora of interests can often be mistaken for the myriad of distractions present in our world. The key to dedicated pursuits lies in deep focus. I’ve realized that while it's okay to have multiple pursuits, it's essential to maintain deep focus on each one.

Tim Koa’s video on creating a "dumb" phone or "lite" phone on your iPhone was exactly what I was looking for in a distraction free day.

But first, let me share some eye-opening things about distraction and phone use:

• Average Phone Usage: People check their phones about 96 times a day—that's once every 10 minutes.
• Screen Time: The average screen time is around 3 hours and 15 minutes daily.
• Notifications: Constant notifications can reduce productivity by 40%.

For these reasons, and my terror looking at my own phone usage per day, I found the appeal of a dumb phone solution SUPER intriguing, because being a person with many interests, doing all-the-things means that having simpler solutions would help me focus on those pursuits so I can tackle bigger problems. Woah, that was a mouthful. But I think you get what I mean.

What my phone looks like now…

You can turn your iPhone into a dumb phone in 10 minutes, beating the culture of constant phone checking.

The steps to a "Lite" iPhone:

1. Get the Blank Spaces App: This app helps you create blank spaces on your home screen.
2. Remove All Apps: Clear your home screen of distractions.
3. Choose 3-5 Essential Items/apps
4. Set Up the Wallpaper: Keep it simple and minimal.
5. Import Blank Space Widgets: Only keep what’s necessary.

I’ve done it and it’s becoming one of my number one suggestions—

It costs $20.00 for a lifetime subscription, but that's a better deal than buying a whole new phone.

Stay focused,

H