By Chanelle Hawken
Let’s be honest—our smartphones are never far from reach. Whether it’s answering an email, joining a Teams meeting, or sneaking a scroll through social media, these little devices have become constant companions in the workplace. And while they are undeniably powerful tools, setting appropriate boundaries can increase productivity while preserving our precious in-person connections at work and at home.
Here’s the good news: with a few smart settings and a little discipline, your smartphone can go from workplace distraction to productivity powerhouse.
The hidden cost of mobile distraction
We often underestimate how much time we lose to our phones. According to Business News Daily, workers waste more than two hours a day on non-work-related smartphone activities, such as texting, social media, and online shopping. The average employee checks their phone 96 times a day—that’s about every 10 minutes—and each interruption can take 23 minutes on average to fully refocus.
Flip the script: Productivity features that deliver
So how do we reclaim our focus? Start with tools built right into your phone. If you’re on an iPhone, take advantage of Focus Mode—Apple’s modern take on Do Not Disturb—which silences non-work apps and prioritizes essential notifications during business hours. Focus Mode provides users with different settings for a variety of scenarios, from working to driving and exercising. Android users can activate Focus Mode or set up Work Profiles, which separate personal and professional apps so you can toggle between them when needed.
For deep work, iPhones also offer Guided Access, which locks your phone into a single app. Need to concentrate on drafting a report? Guided Access can keep you from bouncing over to Instagram “just for a second.”
Boost collaboration without burnout
Smartphones are also central to how we communicate, but those pings and dings can add up. Tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams offer integrations to help manage availability. Sync your calendar so your Slack status auto-updates to “In a meeting,” or establish Quiet Time on your Teams mobile app to prevent late-night interruptions.
Let your phone do the busywork
Finally, let’s talk about automation. Apple’s Shortcuts app and Android’s Tasker or Bixby Routines let you build powerful, time-saving workflows. Create a shortcut that makes a PDF out of anything from any app, or have your phone remind you to do something once it detects you have arrived at your office or another physical location. These tools act like a personal assistant and are early forms of the next big thing — AI agents.
The bottom line
Smartphones aren’t the enemy of productivity—they’re only as distracting as we allow them to be. With the right settings and a little intention, your phone can become an asset in your workday, not a liability. Perhaps more importantly, using apps like Focus Mode and Guided Access can help streamline the way you use your smartphone at home to help protect time with family and friends.
At Cox Mobile, we’re proud to offer mobile solutions that support San Diego residents in their personal lives and when they are at work, whether that’s seamless connectivity or access to the latest devices. After all, tech should work for you, not against you.
Chanelle Hawken is Market Vice President for Cox Communications in San Diego.
