A 2021 survey of working adults in the U.S. found that 64 percent used their personal smartphones for business-related purposes. No doubt, that percentage has only grown in the past three years as our world continues its unrelenting march towards globalization.
As the line between our professional and personal lives gets blurrier, it makes sense that we’ve had to apply similar tactics, like an out-of-office auto reply email, to other methods of communication, like our personal cell phones.
Apple’s Do Not Disturb mode is the modern day OOO message.
Except, we’re not only confining interactions with our colleagues anymore, it’s also for our personal contacts and friends. God forbid we practice self control, set healthy boundaries, or not assume our friends are mad at us if it takes them more than 6 hours to respond (guilty). The constant connectivity is exhausting. And yet, we continue to hold ourselves and our friends to a certain, unspoken standard.
I asked a handful of my group texts (ironic, I know) why they do or don’t use the Do Not Disturb mode on their personal cell phone. Here’s what they said:
“Just at night. Sleep is everything and let’s be honest no one is calling me in the case of an emergency.” Ironically, this person would be great in an emergency.
“I never use it. I’ve considered it but I turn off most of my notifications.”
“I use it when I go to the movies! That’s pretty much the only time it’s on.”
“Yes, when I need to focus at work or I’m studying in a library.”
“I use it when I’m on Zoom meetings or sharing my screen on my Mac.” So wise.
“I don’t use it often. Only time is if there’s a group chat poppin’ off.”
“Only for sleeping. Do not bother me. I work in production so I have to be disturbed sun up to sun down.” Yes ma’am!
“Yeah, I use it for deep work.”
“I use it on purpose and by accident sometimes.” I love the honesty
“Recently, I sent a long text message to my best friend because we’re working it out on the remix1 and I had a lot of other stuff going on that day and wanted to give it the appropriate time and space to read it.”
“I recently started using it on runs because sometimes someone will call and that’s annoying AF.” Running is hard enough as is!
“I turn it on at 9pm every night and occasionally when I need to focus.”
“I don’t use it because I never have sounds enabled.” Same.
“Only when sleeping, napping, or to avoid my mother-in-law texting while I have to work.” Lol
The most common themes on why Do Not Disturb was used? Sleep, a desire for uninterrupted focus, and to strategically avoid unwanted pings. It also seems that most of the people I asked had notifications turned off and/or their phones on silent from the get-go. I’m assuming for the same reason I do, it’s one less reason to be tempted to pick it up when setting boundaries with a smartphone is difficult enough.
How do you use the Do Not Disturb mode?
Is it more for yourself or for others who might try to reach you? And is it just me or does it feel a little performative? Maybe this is just what it takes to get anything done in this day and age.
Either way, the lengths to which we will go to let our friends and family know that we won’t be responding immediately is narcissistic at worst and incredibly thoughtful at best.
Insert OOO message here,
Alexandra Ramirez
A reference to Lorde and Charlie XCX working through their friendship turmoil on a recent pop track
I use my do not disturb usually on Sundays & definitely during a massage! I don’t need to be thinking about all the vibrations that are happening because they are usually just dumb emails!