It’s pretty easy to become addicted to your smartphone and many of us now compulsively check our handsets every few minutes for messages or social media updates.
However, this can be detrimental if you’re trying to get things done and a new app called Offtime could be a major help in breaking that digital habit.
The app allows users to limit which apps can be used to avoid distractions, such as Twitter or Facebook when you’ve got an impending deadline, and prevents people from contacting you unless in an emergency.
While turning your handset to ‘flight mode’ limits all calls from coming through, the Offtime app will let you choose VIP numbers that will still be able to contact you while blocking all other unnecessary communications.
Cleverly, it can also detect if a number is calling repeatedly and will allow them to get through in case it is an emergency.
Offtime will also monitor your usage so you can see which apps you use the most.
Scientific studies showed that using the app to enforce downtime for two hours a day over the course of a week “boosted mental detachment from work” by an average of eight per cent.
