Cultivating Mental Silence

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Zen and the art of setting up my screens...

Zen and the art of setting up my screens...I listen to several podcasts. Most of them focus on varying degrees of being more productive...not to be confused with working more! I guess you could say these podcasts help listeners think about not working harder but smarter. One of my favorites, [https://www.relay.fm/cortex](Cortex), episode #26, the most recent...has to be put into the category of mind blowing! The hosts, [@imyke](Myke Hurley) and [@cgpgrey](CGP Grey) talked extensively about how they use their devices (iPhone and iPad) and how they set up the screens on each device to emulate the work they have decided each device is used for. This is the second time they've talked about these things, the first time being during episode #1.The mind blowing nature about all of this comes in what results from a little bit of time and effort re-thinking what these devices are for and re-configuring your screens to match. For me, this re-thinking and re-configuring has created a sense of mindfulness and calm...when using both devices. As I finished listening to episode #26 (then going back to episode #1)...I started thinking about what my iPhone 6s and iPad Air 2 are used for the most. I then used some of CGP Grey's thinking (go and listen to the podcasts) and deleted a bunch of apps on both devices that did not seem to fit into what I now imagine each device to be for. This included getting rid of Tweetbot and Instagram on the iPhone 6s...two apps I go to right away if I get bored. Grey's thinking about decisions like the one I made include it being ok (in fact healthy) for the mind to feel boredom (versus seeking the quick fix from social media). I agree and his thinking seems to fit into my current attempts to cultivate mental silence. NOTE: It's been 3 days since I took both apps off my phone and I do not miss them being there at all! Keeping Tweetbot and Instagram on the iPad Air 2 makes seeking both out relegated to later in the day (on a workday) and "if and when I'm interested" (on the weekends)...as my iPad Air 2 stays home during the week.As a result of listening to both of these podcasts and reflecting on what each of my devices is for...my iPhone 6s now has 8 apps on the Homescreen and 3 in the dock. The rest of the apps are now in a series of 4 folders...above the 8 apps I use each day...each with one app showing on the first page...on the iPad Air 2...one folder holds 98% of the apps, centered in between 4 apps on the Homescreen and 3 in the dock...(again...I strongly encourage you to listen to the podcasts to hear Grey's thinking about this)...it will rock your foundation and maybe produce a bit of mindfulness and calm in your life!!!