Minimize distractions

Explore the four tips below to learn how you can reduce distractions from your screens and live in the moment.

Many people find themselves distracted by technology. Experts Alexandra Samuel Ph.D. and Adam Gazzaley M.D. Ph.D. propose ways we can stay more present around tech.

  1. Manage your apps and notifications to reduce distractions

    Pausing apps and customizing when and how you get notifications can help keep your attention on your tasks.

    • Android logo

      Pause distracting apps and stay focused.

      With a single tap, Focus mode pauses apps that you’ve selected to minimize distractions and better focus your time. You can even set a schedule to turn on Focus mode automatically.

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      A Google phone screen that shows the options to turn on Focus mode.
    • Android logo

      Control your notifications.

      Temporarily hide notifications. Choose which alerts you always see and whether they make sound or vibrate.

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      A Google phone with option to Snooze notifications for 30min, one hour, or until the user is home.
    • Android logo

      Limit interruptions.

      With one tap in your Quick Settings on Android, Do Not Disturb can hide all notifications so you won’t see them on screen.

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      Google phone Quick Settings with an icon getting tapped to hide all notifications.
    • YouTube logo

      Combine notifications.

      Now you can get all of your YouTube push notifications bundled into a single notification each day — and choose when you get it.

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      A Google phone screen showing bundled YouTube notifications for the user to see when they choose.
    • YouTube logo

      Disable sounds and vibrations.

      By default, all sounds and vibrations from the YouTube app are disabled between 10 pm and 8 am. You can customize the start and end times to ensure that notifications from the YouTube app are sent silently to your phone during a specified time each day.

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      A Google phone screen showing sounds and vibrations getting disabled from 10pm to 8am.
    • Gmail logo

      Change your email notifications.

      Turn on high-priority notifications to limit the number of email alerts you receive and get notified only when it’s essential.

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      A Google phone screen asking to turn on notifications for their most important emails.
  2. Minimize your device use when with others

    Give your full attention to the people you spend time with and maximize the quality of your in-person connections.

  3. Stay heads up

    Use the Google Assistant to complete everyday tasks without getting pulled into your screen. Send text messages, make phone calls, queue up your favorite music, and more.

    A conversation showing the Google Assistant texting on behalf of a user.
  4. Put your phone out of sight and out of mind

    It seems simple, but according to Adam Gazzaley M.D. Ph.D., just keeping your phone out of your line of sight can improve your concentration, your ability to retain information, and help reduce stress.

    Her phone out of sight, a woman sits crosslegged with a book in her lap and a cup in her hand.

More tips

Explore more ways to fine-tune your tech habits