10 Everyday Phone Habits That Make Life Easier

Oct 8

Your smartphone should make your life simpler — not more stressful. But without a few good habits in place, it’s easy for your phone to become a source of distraction, confusion, or wasted battery. At TechPals, we help people build smart routines around their devices, so they can enjoy the benefits without the hassle.

This guide walks you through 10 easy phone habits that can make everyday tasks faster, safer, and more enjoyable — whether you’re using an iPhone or Android.

Need help setting up these features? Visit techpals.org for step-by-step help or to schedule one-on-one support.

1. Plug In Your Phone Before It Gets Too Low

Letting your phone battery run all the way down to 0% on a regular basis can gradually shorten its overall lifespan. Lithium-ion batteries — which are used in most smartphones — perform best when kept between about 20% and 80%. That means you don’t need to wait until it’s completely drained to plug it in. In fact, charging when your battery hits 20–30% and unplugging around 80–90% can help your phone stay healthy longer. It also means your phone will always have enough battery when you really need it, like during an emergency or long day out.

Bonus Tip: Avoid using low-quality or old charging cables, which can slow down charging or cause connection issues. If you're not sure which cables are safe and compatible, TechPals can help you choose the right ones.

2. Clear Out Old Apps Once a Month

Unused apps don’t just take up space — they can also run background processes that slow your phone down and drain your battery. Plus, older apps you don’t open often might not get updated, which can make them less secure. That’s why it’s a smart habit to go through your app list once a month and remove anything you haven’t used in 30 days. This keeps your phone running more smoothly and frees up space for photos, updates, and new apps you’ll actually use.

To remove an app, press and hold the icon until the options menu appears, then tap “Remove App” or “Uninstall.” It only takes a minute and can make a big difference.

Related: Why Is My Phone Acting Weird?

3. Restart Your Phone Weekly

Restarting your phone once a week helps clear temporary files, stop buggy app processes, and reset connections that might have gone out of sync. Many people never turn off their phones, which means small issues can build up over time — causing slowdowns, freezing, or dropped connections. By restarting weekly, you give your phone a fresh start. It only takes about a minute, but can help prevent many common problems before they start. A good routine is to restart on a set day each week — for example, every Sunday morning. You can even set a calendar reminder if it helps make the habit stick.

4. Use Do Not Disturb During Meals or Bedtime

Constant pings and buzzing from notifications can be distracting, especially when you’re trying to eat dinner, relax, or sleep. Setting your phone to automatically enter Do Not Disturb mode during meals or at bedtime can help reduce stress and allow you to be more present. You won’t miss anything important — most phones allow you to make exceptions for favorites or emergency contacts.

On iPhones, use Focus Mode to schedule quiet times.

On Android, you can customize Do Not Disturb under sound settings. This small habit can help you sleep better, focus more, and stay calm.

5. Add Emergency Contacts to Your Lock Screen

In an emergency, having key medical or contact info accessible from your lock screen can save time — and maybe even save a life. Most smartphones allow you to set up emergency contacts, allergies, medications, and other important health info through the built-in Health or Emergency settings.

On iPhone, go to the Health app and tap Medical ID to get started.

On Android, open Settings → Safety & emergency → Emergency info. Once it’s set, responders or bystanders can access that info without unlocking your phone. It’s one of those things you hope you never need — but it’s incredibly important to have ready just in case.

6. Keep Important Messages Pinned

If you regularly text with certain people — like family members, close friends, caregivers, or your doctor’s office — pinning those threads to the top of your messaging app saves time and reduces stress. You won’t have to scroll or search every time you want to reply. Instead, the conversation is always easy to find.

On iPhone, just swipe right on a thread and tap the pin icon.

On Android (in Google Messages), long-press a thread and select the pin icon from the top menu. You can unpin at any time. It’s a simple trick that helps you stay organized and makes messaging more efficient.

7. Use Voice Commands for Quick Tasks

Voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant are built into most smartphones and can handle many everyday tasks — from setting reminders to sending texts. Learning just a few useful voice commands can save you time and make your phone easier to use, especially when your hands are full. Try saying “Call [contact name],” “What’s the weather today?” or “Turn on the flashlight.” You can even set up custom routines or ask your phone to read your calendar. If you’ve never used your voice assistant before, don’t worry — TechPals can help you get started and practice.

Related: How Do I Use Voice-to-Text?

8. Update Apps and Software Promptly

Updates aren’t just about new features — they also fix bugs, improve speed, and close security holes. That’s why keeping your phone’s software and apps up to date is one of the simplest ways to stay safe. Most phones will update automatically when connected to Wi-Fi, but it’s worth checking manually once a week. On iPhone, go to the App Store, tap your profile icon, and scroll to see available updates. On Android, open the Play Store and tap “Manage apps & device.” For system updates, go to Settings → General → Software Update (iPhone) or Settings → System → Software Update (Android).

9. Customize Your Home Screen for Efficiency

Your phone's home screen should work for you — not make you hunt for apps every time. Organizing your home screen makes it easier to find what you need and reduces time spent swiping through pages. Start by moving your most-used apps to the first screen (like Messages, Maps, Camera, and your phone’s browser). Next, group similar apps into folders like “Health,” “Utilities,” or “Social.” On iPhone and Android, press and drag app icons to rearrange or combine them. You can also remove apps you don’t use from the home screen — without deleting them — to reduce clutter.

10. Back Up Your Phone Automatically

Backing up your phone ensures that your photos, messages, contacts, and settings are safe — even if your device is lost, damaged, or stolen. Most phones offer automatic backup features that run in the background when you’re connected to Wi-Fi. On iPhone, go to Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup and make sure it’s turned on. On Android, go to Settings → Google → Backup and tap “Back up now.” Once this is set, your data will be regularly saved to the cloud. It's a good idea to check every few months that your backup is still working properly.

Final Thoughts: Make Your Phone Work for You

With a few small habits, your smartphone can become a smoother, less stressful part of your day. Start with one or two of these suggestions and build from there — even a small change, like restarting weekly or pinning important texts, can make a big difference.

Need help making your phone easier to use? Visit techpals.org to connect with a real TechPal who’ll walk you through the steps — screen by screen.

We’re here to help your phone feel like a helpful tool, not a tech headache.

Jesse Kaplan