Place healthy apps within thumb's reach
We all wish we had super long thumbs — and perhaps one day science will grant us that wish — but until that day, we can use our limited reach to our advantage.
By placing the apps that improve our lives within thumb's reach, we can increase the likelyhood of using those apps.
Most of the time people just follow the path of least resistance. Moments when you stop and make decisions about your own life are not nearly as common.
So, in those moments, choose to do something that will make life easier for the version of you that doesn't realize they've been doom scrolling for 3 hours. Placing healthy apps into the thumb-zone is one such way.
Here are some plausible scenarios:
- The weather app reminds you to go outside and water the plants — you do and the fresh air is invigorating.
- The calendar app has a blank space you fill with a meaningful real-life event — say a meeting with an old friend or a pub quiz.
- Your flashcard app helps you learn trivia that wins you first place in a pub quiz, impressing everyone, including a stranger, who despite your normal sized thumbs, learns to love you for who you are.
Where is the thumb-zone?
The thumb-zone depends on the size of your phone, your handedness, and the length of your thumb.
Here's an example of my thumb-zone on my phone with my thumb. Happy faces are easy to tap and sad faces are hard to tap:
I'm right handed and small phoned, you may find your thumb sits more comfortably on the other side. Do whatever feels right for you and your thumb.
Place unhealthy apps in a folder far far away from your thumb.
Of course, the opposite applies too. Instead of just deleting or hiding life-wasting apps, you can go the extra step and make sure they're in a folder far from the reach of your thumb.