Week 4 of 7
Notifications
Reclaim Your Attention
Most people's phones interrupt them hundreds of times a day without permission. This week is about taking that control back. The phone should serve you, not the other way around. You'll learn to decide who and what gets to interrupt you — and when.
The Seven Topics
Anatomy of a Notification
Lock screen, Notification Center (swipe down from the top), banners (temporary or persistent), sounds, badges. What each of these is and how to find the setting.
App-by-App Notification Permissions
Settings > Notifications > [App]. Turning off the noisy ones (Facebook every 3 hours) while keeping the useful ones (United for flight changes).
Time-Sensitive and Critical Alerts
What lets a notification break through Do Not Disturb. Why your bank's fraud alerts should be in this category but Target's coupon should not.
Sleep Focus / Do Not Disturb
Setting a schedule (e.g., 11 PM to 8 AM). The phone simplifies the home screen, suppresses non-critical notifications, and gets out of your way.
Breakthrough Contacts via Favorites
Connecting Favorites to Focus modes so the right four people can always reach you, even at 2 AM.
Spam Silencing — Only Contacts Can Call
The mode that blocks every unknown number from ringing your phone. Used during meetings, dinners, or just life. Toggle on and off as needed.
Screen Time and Pickups
Settings > Screen Time. The 'Pickups' number — every time a notification made you reach for the phone. A reality check, not a guilt trip. Awareness is step one.
This Week's Action Item
Set up Sleep Focus with a bedtime and wake time you actually follow. Add 3-4 people to the 'allowed' list so a real emergency still reaches you.