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# Home Screens as Therapy
- URL: https://www.cjchilvers.com/blog/home-screens/
- Published: 2017-02-01T15:53:14.000Z
- Updated: 2017-02-01T15:53:14.000Z
- Author: CJ Chilvers
- Tags: iPhone, Productivity, gtd

I have nothing against technology. I do have a problem with using technology as a crutch to keep you from being creative. I have a big problem with my natural, sometimes destructive, tendency to consume a lot of information.

Batching time to consume helps, but sometimes it's more effective to put a real barrier between you and consumption.

The President and CEO of David Allen Company, [Mike Williams](https://twitter.com/GTDmw?ref=cjchilvers.com), has a unique way of dealing with this. He designs his iPhone home screen to create a "micro pause" and ask himself, "Why am I here?"

I first saw one of his screenshots two years ago on the [MacSparky blog](https://www.macsparky.com/blog/2015/4/home-screens-mike-williams?ref=cjchilvers.com):

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579880458-0PN1ZJ15QBAIW78VWABO/image-asset.jpeg)

He explains his reasoning:

> "My home screen is intentionally very simple. I do this to minimize distractions. The distractions are all tucked several screen swipes away. It is a simple reminder to me to keep things simple. The act of intentionally finding an app helps me become conscious to what I am doing and why. I also turn off 98% of all the alerts."

Apparently he has stuck with his philosophy, because [he recently posted](https://twitter.com/GTDmw/status/822876038694780928?ref=cjchilvers.com) a new screenshot to Twitter:

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579882504-FWMZKLQOAI3LO982ISSO/image-asset.jpeg)

I love this idea. So, as a part of my focus this year on being more mindful with my time, I've done the same with my home screen. I've added a photo that personally means something relaxing and joyful as well (something we could all use a dose of several times a day):

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579885018-Y0QWV9LTZPBTGTGXMU3F/image-asset.png)

I'm not alone. [Jay Miller sent me his](https://twitter.com/kjaymiller/status/826191541093818369/photo/1?ref=cjchilvers.com), which is beautiful on another level:

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/93/30/933059b9-0a90-40a6-8ecc-04cdf152178d/content/images/content/v1/5fb175dc7c803320180cf83a/1609579887770-AZQC3QCVFOYBXM7ML6R8/image-asset.jpeg)

This kind of thing represents the best of what the [GTD](http://amzn.to/2kVNW1x?ref=cjchilvers.com) community does these days (and Mike in particular). I may disagree on some of the details of implementation (like the treatment of the calendar), but the general ideas behind [GTD](http://amzn.to/2kVNW1x?ref=cjchilvers.com) and their ties to cognitive studies as well as mindfulness philosophy are always exciting to me.

I recommend this episode of the GTD podcast to get back on board with the most important aspects of the practice: [GTD and the Organized Mind](https://overcast.fm/+ErnXwKnsQ/?ref=cjchilvers.com).

**Update**: Mike has posted [a TEDx talk](https://youtu.be/-CmH6fbyzZs?ref=cjchilvers.com) explaining his home screen philosophy.