Why I No Longer Allow Other People to Randomly Interrupt My Day

Summary

The author has decided to keep their smartphone on silent mode to avoid interruptions from unnecessary calls and has taken measures to control when and how they are contacted.

Abstract

The author, who only acquired a smartphone in 2018, has taken deliberate steps to minimize its intrusion into their daily life. Initially resistant to smartphone culture, they removed social media apps, disabled notifications, and only allowed sounds for calls and alarms. The author has since disabled voicemail due to spam and chosen to keep the phone perpetually on silent mode, only enabling sounds for expected calls. They argue that most calls are not urgent and can be scheduled in advance, emphasizing that the societal norm of unannounced calls is an outdated practice. The author suggests planning calls by sending a text or email to request a suitable time, comparing unscheduled calls to an invasion of privacy akin to uninvited guests. By asserting control over their time, the author rejects the chaotic interruptions of modern communication, prioritizing their own life management over the convenience of others.

Opinions

Unscheduled phone calls are an irritating interruption that rarely constitute an emergency.
Important calls should be planned and scheduled in advance, respecting the recipient's time.
The traditional practice of calling someone without prior notice is outdated in the era of text and email communication.
Phones should not dictate the rhythm of one's day; individuals should take proactive steps to manage interruptions.
The author values personal control over their time and has set boundaries to preserve it.
The author equates unexpected phone calls to a form of rudeness, similar to someone shouting over an in-person conversation.
The author believes that almost all communications can wait for a response and do not require immediate attention.

Shut up, phone! I don’t want to hear another beep out of you!

I didn’t get a smartphone until 2018. I put off getting one for as long as possible.

After an initial burst of enthusiasm, I eventually settled into using it as little as possible. I removed all social media apps, turned off all notifications, and set it so that it only made a noise when someone called me or if an alarm went off.

I also disabled my voice mail because I kept getting voice messages from cold callers.

But now I’ve gone a step further. I’ve decided to just permanently have it on silent mode. The only times I’m going to take it out of silent mode is if I am expecting a phone call.

Getting unexpected phone calls irritates me. And the thing is, 99% of the time, it’s not necessary for the person calling me to interrupt me right at that moment. Important calls can be scheduled in advance. I don’t work for the emergency services, I don’t do a job where I need to be urgently called out, and I’m not a parent.

I look at my phone about once every hour. Almost anything can wait an hour.

Phones are a rude intrusion. If you’re in a conversation with someone in person and their phone rings, it’s like someone has suddenly interrupted your conversation and is repeatedly shouting “SPEAK TO ME! SPEAK TO ME! SPEAK TO ME!”

It’s an outdated custom from when telephones first started being used. Originally, the only way to speak to someone on the phone was to unexpectedly make their phone ring at the other end, interrupting whatever it was they were already doing.

These days, we don’t need to do it that way. If you’re intending to phone someone, and it’s not a last-minute urgent need, plan ahead. Send them an email or text message in advance, asking them, “Is it okay if I phone you this evening at 7 pm?”

Phoning somebody without warning is like suddenly bursting into their house and going “I’M HERE! LET’S TALK!”

I’m done with all that. I’m taking back control of my time. It’s my life, I’ll live it how I want. If you want to suddenly speak to me without warning, it’s not going to happen. If that doesn’t fit in with the chaotic way you lead your life, I don’t care.