Why Did My Phone Vibrate for That?
The thing that bothers me most is this:
Your phone vibrates. You stop what you’re doing. You check it. And it’s a notification from Instagram that says:
“JaneDoe357 liked your post.”
That’s it.
Your phone buzzed—disrupted your attention—so you could learn that someone liked a photo.
What exactly are you supposed to do with that information?
Thanks JaneDoe357? Frame the like?
Instead, you probably tap the notification, get sucked into the app, and next thing you know… 15 minutes are gone.
And not 15 minutes you planned on spending.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I was at the point where I felt like I was duped in a “Deez Nuts” prank again…and again.
So I started asking myself one simple question whenever I downloaded a new app:
Are these notifications time-sensitive to my being?
If I didn’t see it for 12 hours, would it change anything?
Spoiler alert:
For 90% of notifications, the answer is no.
You’d be shocked how much doesn’t need your immediate attention.
Asifo says:
When your phone notifies you, it should be about something that truly matters.
Something that requires your attention—not just your curiosity.
Reduce the noise in your life so the real signals come through clearly.Any information that’s not urgent? You can go seek it out.
You don’t need to be on-call for likes, updates, or new drops.
Think of your phone like a mailbox.
You don’t get a buzz every time a flyer lands in there.
You check it once a day—or more often if you’re expecting something.
That’s how your phone should work, too.
Let your attention belong to you.
Not to whoever wants to hijack it next.