Streamlined Solopreneur: Helping simplify your tech stack and escape hustle

My iPhone Focus Modes

Jun 9, 2025

Discover the power of iPhone focus modes as a tool to regain control over your digital life. Learn how to craft customized profiles that suit different routines, from deep work to gym sessions. Explore automated features that activate modes based on time or location, making distractions a thing of the past. Plus, discover the benefits of creating digital boundaries to enhance your concentration and mental clarity. It's all about maximizing productivity and carving out uninterrupted time for what truly matters.

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ANECDOTE

Inspired by Disney Trip

Joe Casabona started using focus modes after a Disney trip where he barely used his phone.
This experience inspired him to control his phone usage more intentionally.

INSIGHT

What Are Focus Modes?

Focus modes customize Do Not Disturb settings for different parts of your day.
They allow control over which people and apps can interrupt you, tailoring notifications to your needs.

ADVICE

Automate Context Switching

Use focus modes to switch contexts intentionally instead of fighting phone distractions.
Automate them by time, location, or app to protect your focus without manual effort.

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I've been on a mission to use my phone way less this year, sparked by reading The Anxious Generation and that magical Disney World trip where I barely touched my phone. The solution? iPhone focus modes - my secret weapon for controlling the fire hose of information instead of letting it control me.

Think about it: you finally sit down to get some real work done, and your phone starts buzzing with calendar alerts, group chats going off, and random notifications. It's enough to make you want to throw it out the window.

Focus modes let you take back control by choosing exactly who and what can reach you in different contexts.

I've crafted focus modes for every part of my day - from the gym to my ultra-strict "Green Zone" mode for deep work (where I can literally only see time tracking widgets). Each mode has custom home screens, specific apps, and even changes my Apple Watch face to match what I'm doing.

*Want a peek into how I’ve created more time? Check out my free automations database and AI swipe file at https://casabona.org/streamlined*

Top Takeaways

Focus modes are custom "Do Not Disturb" profiles that let you control which people and apps can interrupt you based on what you're doing - think of them as digital boundaries for different parts of your day.
You can automate focus modes to turn on based on time, location, or when you open specific apps, so you don't have to remember to switch them manually (my fitness mode turns on when I get to the gym, personal mode kicks in at 6 PM).
The goal isn't to be unreachable, it's to be present - focus modes help you context switch with intention instead of fighting your phone for the ability to concentrate on what matters in that moment.

Show Notes

Screenshots: Lock Screens | Home Screens | Focus Modes
The Anxious Generation
ScreenTime+
Opal
Flighty
FitBod
Ecamm Live
Fantastical
The Brick
My 2025 Yearly Theme
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