Keep Phone in Another Room While Working

What is it?

This hack involves physically placing your phone in a different room while you're working on tasks that require focus. Instead of keeping it within arm's reach on your desk or in your pocket, you deliberately create distance between yourself and your device. The phone is still accessible if truly needed, but it's far enough away that checking it requires conscious effort rather than automatic impulse.

The key distinction here is physical separation, not just silencing notifications or flipping it face-down. By removing the phone from your immediate environment, you eliminate the visual cue that triggers habitual checking, even when you're not consciously aware of it.

How does it work?

Your brain is wired to respond to stimuli in your environment, and your phone is one of the most powerful attention magnets in modern life. Research shows that the mere presence of a smartphone—even when silenced and face-down—reduces available cognitive capacity. This phenomenon, called "brain drain," happens because part of your mental resources are constantly devoted to not picking up the phone.

When your phone is in another room, you eliminate this cognitive burden entirely. There's no internal battle between "should I check it?" and "I need to focus." The decision is already made. Additionally, the friction of having to physically get up and walk to another room creates a natural pause that helps you recognize whether the urge to check your phone is genuine or just habitual.

Why adopt it?

The impact on your focus and productivity can be transformative. Most people underestimate how frequently they glance at their phones—studies suggest we check our devices 50-80 times per day, often without remembering we did it. Each glance fragments your attention and triggers a "context switch" that can take 20+ minutes to recover from.

By keeping your phone in another room, you reclaim hours of deep work time. Your ability to sustain attention on complex tasks improves dramatically. You'll likely notice you complete work faster and with higher quality. Beyond productivity, many people report feeling calmer and less anxious without the constant pull of their device. You're also modeling healthy boundaries with technology, which can positively influence others around you.

How to adopt it (First steps)?

Choose your phone's "home" during work hours. Designate a specific spot in another room where your phone will live during focus sessions—perhaps a charger in the kitchen, bedroom, or hallway. Having a consistent location reduces the mental load of deciding where to put it each time.

Start with defined time blocks. Begin with 25-minute or 1-hour focus sessions where your phone stays away. Use these bounded periods to build the habit without feeling completely disconnected. Gradually extend the duration as you become comfortable.

Communicate your availability. Let key people (family, close colleagues) know you're implementing this practice and may not respond immediately. For emergencies, ensure they have an alternative way to reach you, like calling your work line or another household member.

Put your phone on Do Not Disturb or airplane mode first. Before leaving it in another room, activate these modes so even if you do retrieve it during a weak moment, you won't be bombarded with accumulated notifications.

Create a transition ritual. When you're ready to start focused work, make physically walking your phone to its designated spot part of your routine—like making coffee or clearing your desk. This signals to your brain that it's time to enter deep work mode.

Challenges and how to overcome them

"But I need my phone for two-factor authentication or work calls". For authentication, consider using an authenticator app on your computer or keeping backup codes accessible. For calls, forward important calls to your work line, use your computer for VoIP calls, or schedule specific times to retrieve your phone when needed. Most "urgent" work situations aren't truly time-sensitive within a 1-2 hour window.

"I feel anxious being separated from my phone". This anxiety is real and common—it's called nomophobia. Start with very short separations (15 minutes) and gradually increase. Remind yourself that for most of human history, we weren't constantly reachable, and things worked fine. The anxiety typically decreases significantly after a few days of practice.

"I use my phone for music or timers while working". Switch to alternatives: use your computer for music (Spotify web, YouTube), get a simple desk timer or use your computer's timer, or invest in a basic MP3 player or smart speaker. The goal is to remove the multi-function distraction device, not all audio or time-tracking tools.

"I keep finding reasons to go get it". This is your habit loop trying to reassert itself. When you feel the urge, write down what you wanted to check instead. Review the list at the end of your focus session—you'll likely find most items weren't actually important. This awareness helps break the compulsion over time.

Supporting apps/tools

Forest or Flora — Phone apps that reward you for not using your device. Before putting your phone away, start a session. If you retrieve and unlock it, your virtual tree dies, creating a playful accountability mechanism.

Freedom or Cold Turkey — Apps that can block your phone entirely during scheduled times, adding an extra layer of commitment if willpower alone isn't enough.

Simple kitchen timer or Time Timer — Analog timing devices that let you track focus sessions without needing your phone nearby.

Kasa Smart Plug or similar — For the truly committed: plug your phone charger into a smart outlet you can schedule or control from your computer, creating a designated "charging/away time" automatically.

Notepad and pen — Keep these at your desk to jot down any "urgent" thoughts about things to check on your phone later. This externalizes the mental burden without breaking your focus.