Cancelled My Number to Get Work Done

[mouakter13]

For a while, I found myself drowning in distractions, and most of them came from one source: my phone number. Texts, calls, notifications—they never stopped. Even when I wasn’t actively on my phone, just knowing that a call or message could come through at any moment kept me on edge. I couldn’t focus for more than 20 minutes without some form of interruption. I started missing deadlines, pushing projects aside, and feeling mentally exhausted. That’s when I asked myself something radical: What if I just got rid of my number? At first, it sounded ridiculous. But after thinking about how much time and energy I was losing, I made the leap—I cancelled my number.

The effect was immediate. I didn’t realize how much mental special database clutter those little pings and rings had created until they were gone. Without constant communication coming at me from all directions, I was finally able to settle into deep work. I wasn’t checking my phone every five minutes. I wasn’t fielding back-and-forth texts that could’ve been emails. Instead, I organized my communication around specific tools—Slack for collaborative work, email for official conversations, and scheduled check-ins where necessary. Not only did I get more done in a day, but the quality of my work improved. I felt more present, more creative, and far less frazzled. What I once feared would isolate me actually gave me clarity and breathing room.

Of course, cancelling my number raised a few eyebrows, and I had to explain to clients and colleagues how to reach me in other ways. But once people understood, they adapted. The world didn’t end, and I didn’t lose touch with anyone important. More importantly, I gained back control over my time and focus. If you’re someone who struggles to get work done because you’re constantly being pulled in by phone calls or texts, I can’t recommend this enough. Cancelling my number might sound like an extreme move—but for me, it was exactly what I needed to reclaim my productivity and peace of mind. Sometimes, in order to move forward, you have to let go of the things that are silently holding you back.