In the spirit of the main article, here’s one way I reduce noise in my life.
Not to be confused with Do Not Disturb—that’s a whole different drama and a story for another day—and frankly, I don’t even use it. What I DO use, constantly, is the underrated genius of Silent Mode.
Yes, that little toggle switch on the upper left side of most iPhones. The one just above the volume buttons. That’s the gateway to peace. Press and hold and the digital chatter hushes. Press and hold again and we’re back in business.
As a mom, a Realtor, and a Virtual Assistant, I need to be tuned in most of the day. Messages, calls, pings are all part of my jobs, and most of the time I want to hear them. But I’ve learned there are pockets of time when silence isn’t optional, it’s essential.
Silent Mode gets activated when I’m with clients, drafting and editing projects, or diving into focused work. It goes on when I’m in an important meeting, walking into church, and during prayer and meditation time. A mandatory setting when I sit down for dinner or a show with my son, and just before my head hits the pillow.
Here’s the truth: we don’t have to be available every second of the day. In fact, the constant barrage of notifications is the very definition of noise. And one of the best habits I’ve built is learning when to let that noise go.
Silent Mode is more than a phone setting for me—it’s a productivity tool, a boundary-setter, and honestly, a small act of self-care. Are there better ways? Probably! But Silent Mode is my go-to and something I have to have.
Click reply and tell me if and when you use Silent Mode.