How to set up a “Dumb Phone” mode on your iPhone

Hello and Welcome!

Welcome back to The Digital Minimalist. Each week, I share actionable tips to stay productive in our cluttered and distracting world.

Setting Up a "Dumb Phone" Mode

Using the iPhone Focus feature, we can set up a "dumb phone" mode to limit its features when we want to stay focused, while still enjoying access to leisure and information at other times.

There's no need to buy a new device or dumb down your phone 24/7.

This Week’s Minimalist Picks

• Opal (iOS) is a screen time app that helps you block distracting apps during focus sessions.

• Instapaper (iOS, Android) is a long-standing, largely free read-later app that simply works.

• How to customize your iPhone app icons

Quote of the Week

A great, simple reminder to keep in mind as we start 2025.

I hope you enjoyed this issue, and I will talk to you soon next week.