Optimizing Your iPhone to Increase Productivity for Scattered Brains

Welcome, Dreamers.

Do you ever open your phone with good intentions—only to get pulled in by a dozen apps fighting for your attention?

It’s not your fault. Every icon, every notification is designed to distract you. And before you know it, you're off track.

But here’s the truth: your phone is also one of the most powerful tools you own for getting your life in order. You just need to set it up to work for you—not against you.

A lot of apps claim to help with this. They offer timers, lockouts, or fancy systems to keep you focused. But most of them charge a weekly fee—and when you’re already subscribed to five other things, those charges start to add up.

Today, I’m going to show you how to turn your smartphone into a distraction-fighting machine—for free.

Start with the Lock Screen

You don’t need to do much here. Most phones let you add 3–4 widgets.

I recommend starting with your Reminders and Calendar. If you have "always-on display" enabled, you’ll see your to-do list and your next event just by glancing at your phone. No unlocking. No tapping.

Mine sits on a stand right next to me while I work. It’s like a little accountability buddy, always in view.

The Home Screen

Think of your home screen as command central. It should do two things:

Remind you what to do

Make it easy to do it

Here’s how I set mine up:

A Big Clock

I struggle with time blindness. A tiny time display at the top of the screen just doesn’t cut it. I need the time front and center to help me stay aware of how long things take and when it’s time to move on.

Calendar Widgets

I use two calendars: one for personal stuff, one for work. You can stack them and scroll between them on iPhone.

This keeps everything in front of me, especially when managing multiple schedules. It’s made a huge difference in how I handle deadlines and plan my day.

ChatGPT

This one’s a game changer.

I use ChatGPT like a second brain. When a thought pops up, I type it in. Whether it’s a random idea, a question, or something I don’t want to forget—it goes there.

The more you use it, the more it learns how you think. And over time, it becomes better at helping you stay focused and solve problems your way.

Reminders

This widget shows your top 3 tasks and lets you check them off without opening the app. I use it constantly. From groceries to work tasks to “text Mom back,” I finally feel like I’m not forgetting everything anymore.

Notes

Late-night thoughts? 2am genius ideas? This is where they go.

Having Notes right on your home screen makes it easy to jot something down in 5 seconds and go back to sleep. No more “I’ll remember in the morning” lies.

What About the Screen to the Left?

This screen is for calm stuff. No to-dos, no pressure.

Mine has the weather, maps, a news widget, and a photo carousel. It’s where I put apps I use a lot—but that aren’t trying to make me do anything. Just things I check.

Your phone is like an extension of your brain. When you organize it to support your focus, you free up mental space. That’s space you can use to be creative, to finish things, and to feel more in control of your day.

Try adding just one new widget to your lock screen today. That’s it. Start small, and you’re already doing better than yesterday.

Want to take this even further?

If you liked organizing your phone to support your brain, you’ll love learning how to work with AI like a partner. In my Partnered AI Communication Technique(PACT) class, I’ll show you how to use tools like ChatGPT to manage mental clutter, stay on track, and actually follow through on your ideas.

Join the class and make AI part of your support system.

Because your phone shouldn’t just ping at you—it should help you.