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Tech can be useful and fun, except when it becomes annoying, which could be quite often if you’re not careful. That’s right, tech can quickly become annoying to you and to others around you if you don’t take some time to harness the power of your tech.
The good news is that by making a few changes, you can make tech a less annoying part of your life. Use these tips to reduce intrusions into your life from your phone, tablet, computer, and/or Alexa device and start enjoying tech more.
Block Spam Callers
One of the most annoying problems of owning a cell phone is getting calls from spam callers. Whether they’re robocalls, telemarketers, or scammers, their calls are always unwelcome.
Make your phone less annoying by blocking spam callers so you can have more time for pleasures in life.
Learn more at => Apps to Block Annoying Robocalls
Spend Less Time on Your Phone to Free Up More Time for Other Stuff
Ever wanted more hours in your day? You can get them by spending less time on your phone.
Both Android and iPhone can track how much time you spend on your phone and let you know whether you’re spending more or less time on your phone. By using these features you can learn how much time you spend on your phone each day and try to reduce your screen time, freeing up more time for other important tasks.
For iPhone and iPad, you can turn on Screen Time in Settings. Screen Time can give you weekly reports about your usage and help monitor trends over time. You can also limit the time your children spend on their iPhone and iPad, requiring them to use a passcode after their allotted time has expired.
Google’s Pixel phone has a native app called Digital Wellbeing that can monitor your screen time and limit usage. For other Android phones, check out apps that monitor your usage such as My Phone Time, a free app in the Google Play store.
Of course, if monitoring your screen time becomes annoying, you can always turn off this feature.
Put Down Your Phone at Meals
How often have you looked around at a restaurant to see most people engrossed in their phone, instead of in conversation with their dining companions? If you’re lucky enough to be eating in the company of others, then you can better enjoy their presence by putting down your phone.
Better yet, put your phone in your pocket or your bag so you’re not distracted by incoming notifications and text messages.
Check out => Yes, You’re Annoying People When You’re Using Your Phone
Change Alexa’s Name
Digital Assistants can be extremely helpful, all you have to do is summon them by voice to ask them for information, perform tasks, play music, give weather predictions, make phone calls, and more. But if you have a family member named “Alexa” and you have Alexa device, you may quickly get annoyed by confusion between the two.
The good news is that you can change Alexa’s name to other wake words, including:
- Amazon
- Echo
- Computer
Learn how to change Alexa’s name at => 10 Top Tips to Make Alexa Work Best for You!
Turn Off Unnecessary Notifications
If your phone is too much of a distraction (see above), turn off notifications that aren’t important to you. Do you really need to know immediately when someone followed you on Twitter, Liked a Facebook post or commented on an Instagram photo?
By turning off unnecessary notifications on your phone, tablet, and computer, you may be able to focus on your real life instead of your online life.
Check out => How to Easily Manage Notifications in Chrome to Make Them Work Better for You
Change the Settings on Your Notifications
Sounds
Have you ever been with someone whose phone kept chirping/beeping/serenading them constantly? I was recently in a doctor’s office waiting room with a woman whose phone didn’t go 30 seconds without chiming about something.
Turn off sound notifications for apps that don’t need your immediate attention and save sound notifications only for truly important apps.
Badges
Do you really need multiple notifications from your apps? Do you need that badge/bubble nudging you to open rarely used apps? Turn off badge notifications from apps you rarely use.
Turn On Do Not Disturb
Set up a schedule for Do Not Disturb to turn on for your phone, tablet, and Alexa devices every night and turn off again in the morning so you can sleep without being pestered by your tech. If you wear an Apple Watch, adjust the settings so Do Not Disturb turns on when you start a workout.
Don’t Miss => Do Not Disturb – The iPhone Feature You Should Be Using
Turn on Do Not Disturb While Driving
Turn on Do Not Disturb While Driving to automatically let people who text or call you while you’re driving that you’ll get back to them when you arrive at your destination. By doing this, you may not only be annoyed less, you may also be saving lives.
Learn more at => Documentary Exposes How Clueless We Are About Texting While Driving
For iPhones, turn on Do Not Disturb While Driving in Settings => Do Not Disturb => Do Not Disturb While Driving => Activate => Automatically.
For Android phones, check out Driving Detective, a free app in the Google Play store.
Set Ringtones and Text Tones for Your Most Important Contacts
Assign important contacts their own ringtones and text tones so you know who’s reaching out without having to pull out your phone. No more wondering who’s calling you or texting you when you use special ringtones and text tones for your most important contacts. You’ll know immediately when it’s your boss, spouse, partner, child, or agent calling/texting you.
See, Whistle Out How to Set Ringtones for Contacts: iPhones and Androids
Turn Off Your Phone
Sounds crazy, right? But by turning off your phone, you’ll be able to:
- silence it
- preserve battery power
- avoid distractions
- save monthly data
Try it every so often. You may like it!
See => How to Silence Your Phone
Delete Unused Apps
Apps can’t pester you if they’re not on your phone. Delete any apps you’re not using so you can gain space on your phone, help it run better, and save your monthly data.
Check out => Declutter Your Phone to Make It Run Better and Save Battery Life
Your Thoughts
Do you have any suggestions about how to make your tech less annoying? How many of these resolutions have you already done? Are there any that you will do in the future?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
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*Angry Man image (edited) courtesy of iosphere via freedigitalphotos.net and Creative Commons
*Say No to Robocalls image courtesy of Mike Licht via Flickr and Creative Commons
*Cell phone and meal image courtesy of Jonathan Borba on Unsplash
*Badge notification image courtesy of Creighton Miller via Flickr and Creative Commons
*Texting While Driving image courtesy of melissa mjoen on Unsplash
Thanks very much for this guide.
Seriously, as much as my phone helps A LOT, it can be counter-productive sometimes because of TOO MUCH notification.
As a matter of fact, some of my friends complain that I don’t pick calls, because I put my phone on DO NOT DISTURB when I’m busy.
Thanks once again for this.
Hi Soneye, You’re right, our phones can definitely turn into too much of a good thing. We should strive to find the best balance of having our tech be useful but not annoying. Perhaps you could change your Do Not Disturb settings to allow calls from Favorites to ring when your phone is in Do Not Disturb mode if you’re missing important calls from your friends.
Thank you for these tips! I definitely agree about shutting off notifications on your phone. That has been immensely helpful for me with my business. Sometimes I get a bunch of random notifications about likes or simple comments that don’t need a reply but I feel the need to check in case it is an important email. I shut off all notifications except those that are filtered as important and I am much happier!
Luke
Hi Luke, You’re right, the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) may compel us to check emails and notifications more frequently than we really need to. That’s great you’ve turned off unwanted notifications. The less we’re distracted by trivial matters the better!
Very useful ideas on limiting the bombardment of ads we seem to get on a daily basis. I use a low tech approach to unwanted phone calls just by checking the phone number on caller id displayed on my home phone to monitor an incoming call for unknown or unwanted numbers.
Notifications seem to be requested on everything tech-based and it can get a bit overwhelming. Using multiple types of devices can make the management of notifications a bit of a problem for me though.
Hi Mark, Good points. Managing annoying tech can be made more difficult when you have multiple tech devices to control. But that makes turning off unwanted notifications even more important.
Spam callers are getting better at faking caller ID numbers to make it look as if you’re being called from a local phone number. Letting calls go to voice mail, then blocking the numbers can help though.
Hi Carolyn
Thanks for the timely reminder to clean out all the unused apps on my iPhone iPad and iWatch. I have a tendency to collect apps I think will be useful them forget about them. Since I work from home, to be efficient I need to turn emails off completely except when I check them otherwise my days are easily destroyed by getting side-tracked.
Hi Steve, Yes, tech can be incredibly distracting, whether you’re trying to work or socialize. You’re doing well to recognize this and turn off your emails when you’re trying to work so you don’t get distracted.
That’s great you’ve deleted unwanted apps from your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. You can now enjoy the benefits of having your tech be less annoying!
Thanks Dear, It’s Very Nice Article. I Am Really Very Frustrated With Spam Calls And Robocalls On My Phone. But Here You Gave Me A Good Solution.
Hi Jumma, I’m so glad you found this article to be helpful to you. You’re right, spam callers can be the most annoying aspect of tech!
Hey, I have perform uninstalling un-used apps and some games from my phone.
But you know what I like the most, Change Alexa’s name.
I’ll definitely going to do that.
Thanks for such an interesting article
Hi Suresh, That’s great you’ve cleared out unused apps and games from your phone. Changing Alexa’s name is a smart move too. I may have to do that myself as our family is watching a show where a main character’s name is “Alexis” and Alexa keeps trying to respond to the TV!
It’s funny to realize that actually technology doesn’t have that much positive impact. I once had the problem of being addicted to using a smartphone. Making me far from those closest to me because I was too busy staring at the smartphone screen.
By the way, thanks for the tips, Carolyn! I will share it with my friends.
Hi Bintang, Yes, by being addicted to our tech we may be shutting out our real-life friends who feel ignored by our staring at screens. That’s great you were aware of your issue and took steps to address it.
Hi,
You really mentioned the correct points, I agree with all the points mentioned above. I get very irritated by Spam calls, I blocked them too but still it come over my cell phone, really that’s very irritated. Also, If you are in office and your phone ringtone rings which makes very embarrassing when you have the silly tune ringtone. These things are really annoying thing. Anyway thanks for sharing all the annoying things with us. Enjoyed the article.
Thanks
Hi Sumit, You’re exactly right. Unwanted phone calls at inconvenient times can be annoying, but even more so when they come from spam callers. I’m glad these tips may help you make your tech less annoying.
Thanks so much for these wonderful tips.
I never knew of most of the apps mentioned above, like the Spam blocker app and App usage tracking to keep a record of time spent with my phone.
I must confess, I am guilty of pressing my phone during meals, this I know its a bad habit. Thanks for the advice regarding pressing phones during mealtime. I am gonna stick to your advice.
Thanks once again.
Hi Victoria, I’m glad these tips are helpful to you. Becoming aware of your use of tech is the first step in trying to control it. Keep at it and you’ll be enjoying life more in no time!
Hey CAROLYN NICANDER MOHR ,
Great post. Thanks for sharing these post with us. I have got lots of ways to utilize the tech in a right way. Keep up the good work. All your hardwork is much appreciated.
Hi Harry, I’m so glad you enjoyed this article. Yes, tech can be annoying if you don’t take control of it. That’s great you are doing a good job in managing your tech.
I spend lots of time on my phone but most distracting and distracting part of owning a phone is Facebook and email notifications, lol.
I spend a lot of time on this little gadget but these notifications are like an adrenaline rush each time they show their red signals.
Trying to control it and these tips will come in handy.
Hi Emmanuel, Yes, notifications from social media can be quite addictive. You can suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out) if you turn off notifications. But you also may get better control over your life and start enjoying the real world more. Try it and see if turning off notifications work better for you. If it doesn’t you can always turn them back on.
Thank you so much for sharing this article! In today’s era it’s not very common to find an article pertaining to how can we reduce the usage of technology. The “do not disturb” solution really gives me a kick as I needed it the most.
Hi Rafaela, Yes, Do Not Disturb is an effective tool to help us quiet tech without our missing out on important phone calls. I’m glad you’re using it well!
Technology is great, but at times, it can be really annoying. Spending too much time on technology will us wasting hours!
You shared some great tips and thanks for that!
Hi Trevor, You’re right, if we’re spending too much time on technology, that’s time we could be spending on other things. We only have so many hours in the day. Do we really want to be spending a lot of those hours on tech?
Hi Carolyn,
turning off unnecessary notifications is a great idea if you need to get anything done. Nowadays I often put my phone in flight mode when I’m working. It’s just so annoying to get interrupted so often. I noticed how much more productive I am now.
I like how you recommend to put down your phone while having meals. So often I see people staring at their smartphones instead of listening to the person on the other side of the table.
Anyway, great article. I bookmarked your website 🙂
Hello Kim, That’s great you are taking steps to make tech less annoying. You’re exactly right, when you’re with people you should be focusing on them rather than your screen. You’re also more productive when you put your phone in airplane mode, reducing the potential for distraction.
Thank you for your kind words and for bookmarking The Wonder of Tech.
Thanks for posting such an meaningful information for making technology less annoying. Technology could be stressful if not used properly. Restricting usage of digital device before sleep time can enable one to sleep properly and maintain a healthy life. Thanks again for posting useful content.
Hi Vikram, Good point, restricting your use of tech before bedtime is another way to reduce its annoyance. I’m glad you enjoyed this article, Vikram.
Very useful ideas on limiting the bombardment of ads we seem to induce on a everyday. i use a low tech approach to unwanted phone calls just by checking the telephone number on caller ID displayed on my home phone to watch an incoming call for unknown or unwanted numbers.
Notifications seem to be requested on everything tech-based and it can get a touch overwhelming. Using multiple types of devices can make the management of notifications a touch of a problem on behalf of me though.
Hi Rustam, Good points. Yes, it may seem cumbersome to take steps to make our tech less annoying. But by doing so we will actually save time in the long run and have more peace with our devices.