My phone had some problems so I had to reset it to factory settings.

I could have installed all the apps and files I normally use from a backup but I didn’t. I’ve started with a blank slate. If I want to do something with the phone I have to install the app I need.

Over time we develop particular behaviours around our phones. Habits built around what we have installed on them. Starting with a blank slate disrupts that behaviour. It creates a small obstacle that you have to deliberately choose to overcome. When we fall into habits we don’t question them. We just follow the pattern that we’ve built up. A small obstacle is enough to make you question what you’re doing.

With your regular phone set up, you might mindlessly open an app or apps and end up wasting time on them. Starting with a blank slate, if you mindlessly open the phone the app isn’t there so you can’t open it. You have to make a deliberate decision to download the app in order to use it. If you decide I really need the app you download it, otherwise you’ve stopped yourself from mindlessly wasting time.

Following this new behaviour for a few days should leave you with the apps you need but none of the apps that are simply time-wasters.

Starting over from scratch, deliberately deleting, is sometimes the best way to change. Your phone isn’t the only thing you can reset. You can wipe the slate clean in any routine to rebuild it better.