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By Colby Kultgen

Happy New Year friends!

This is the newsletter where I share the 5 best things I find each week to help you get a little better each day.

I promise I've made the first edition of 2025 extra juicy.

Let's dive in!

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Today at a Glance:

1. Strategy: How I broke my phone addiction
2. Article: 5 steps to an unforgettable 2025
3. Article: What would it mean to be done for the day
4. Video: 7 tips to crush your to-do list
5. Visual: A reminder everyone needs to see

Read time: 4 minutes

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How I broke my phone addiction (and you can too)

15,000 hours.

If a person reduced their screen time by just one hour per day for the next 40 years, that’s how much time they'd save.

That number has lived rent-free in my head for the past year as I’ve battled to get my screen time under control.

After several failed attempts, here’s what actually worked:

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1. I got accountability

This was the game-changer.

It’s one thing to promise yourself you’ll cut back on screen time — it’s a whole other thing to know you’ll have to share your screen time report with someone at the end of the week.

I set up weekly check-ins with a friend where we share our screen time stats. And let me tell you, just knowing someone else will see those numbers has made a massive difference.

If you're having trouble finding an accountability partner I suggest looking on r/GetMotivatedBuddies (free) or Fiverr (paid).

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2. I added awareness

One of the simplest—and most effective—things I did was to put a Screen Time widget on my home screen.

Seeing those numbers in real time, every time I unlocked my phone, added a layer of awareness I didn’t have before.

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3. I removed social media apps

As someone who makes a living on social media, this one was tricky.

But if I can do it, you probably can too. I didn’t delete my accounts—just the apps. Now, I only log in on my laptop, which creates enough friction to prevent mindless scrolling.

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4. I put my phone in greyscale mode (kind of)

I tried going fully greyscale for a while but found it made essential apps like Google Maps difficult to use. So, instead of going all-in, I adjusted the greyscale filter to around 60% strength.

It’s a happy medium—my phone still works just fine, but the colors are muted enough to kill the appeal of mindless scrolling.

That's it!

4 steps that helped me reduce my screen time by about 50%.

But here’s the thing: cutting screen time is only half the battle.

To avoid slipping back into old habits, fill that reclaimed time with something meaningful — a book, a hobby, a long walk, whatever you’ve been putting off.

Don’t just subtract. Replace.

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5 steps to have an unforgettable 2025 - One Minute Blog from Shaan Puri​

I came across this list in Shaan Puri’s newsletter (highly recommend).

It’s a framework from his friend Jesse Itzler — a guy who’s built businesses, run ultra-marathons, and even lived with David Goggins.

Here they are:

1. Cut the Clutter: Clean out your closet, archive old emails, unsubscribe from newsletters you don’t read, clear off your desk. Get light — physically and mentally.
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2. Look Back with Gratitude: Jesse writes 100s of thank-you notes to people who made an impact in the last year. You don’t need to go that far.But take a few minutes to message the people who made a difference in your life this year. You’ll feel better — and so will they.
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3. Identify the Gap: If your life isn’t a 10/10 right now, what’s missing?Maybe it’s your health, your friendships, or how much fun you’re having. Whatever it is, name it. You can’t fix what you don’t see.
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4. Pick a Big Goal (aka a Misogi): A Misogi is a year-defining challenge. Ask yourself: “What’s one thing I could do this year that would make me say, ‘Oh yeah, 2025? That’s the year I did ____.’”
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5. Put It on the Calendar: Resolutions are just wishes. If you want to make things happen, block time on your calendar for them now.

I love this list.

It’s got me thinking about what my Misogi for 2025 will be.

What about you? Reply to this email and let me know yours — I’d love to hear it.

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What would it mean to be done for the day - Article from Oliver Burkeman​

Powerful idea from Oliver Burkeman (author of Four Thousand Weeks) that I'm sure a lot of us can relate to:

So instead of chasing an endless to-do list, ask yourself:

“What would it mean to be done for the day?”

Here’s how to put this into practice:

1. Set a daily “done” list. Each morning, pick 3-5 things you can reasonably accomplish.
2. Decide on a stopping point. Time-based (e.g., “I stop at 5 PM”) or task-based (e.g., “After these 3 tasks, I’m done”).
3. Close your day with intention. Review what you accomplished and consciously end the workday. No sneaking back to check emails.

The work will never be fully finished — but you can (and should) choose when to be done.

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7 Hacks to Crush Your To-Do List Every Day - Video from Tiago Forte​

Ok, we’ve figured out when we’ll be done for the day.

Now, let’s make sure we’re managing our tasks in a way that actually gets us there.

Here’s a TL;DW of this recent video from productivity expert Tiago Forte (author of Building a Second Brain).

7 rules to keep your to-do list under control:

1. Write tasks down immediately: Don’t rely on memory. Capture tasks as soon as they pop into your head using a task manager or notes app.

2. Use the 2-minute rule: If a task takes less than 2 minutes, do it right away instead of adding it to your list.

3. Focus on the next physical action: Make tasks actionable with clear verbs like write, call, or schedule. Avoid vague tasks like “figure out” or “think about.”

4. Add all relevant info to tasks: Include details (links, emails, phone numbers) directly in the task to save time later.

5. Don’t put “read/watch/listen” tasks on your list: Move content to a “read later” app. Treat it as optional, not a priority.

6. Pick 3 important tasks per day: Limit your daily focus to 3 realistic tasks to avoid overwhelm and boost focus.

7. Match tasks to your energy levels: Do deep work when your energy is highest (typically mornings) and save light tasks for low-energy times.

Bonus tip — Let go of guilt: You won’t finish every task, and that’s okay. Focus only on what’s on your “today” list. Life’s too short to feel guilty about unfinished to-dos.

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A powerful reminder for 2025

I've shared this image a few times in the past, but it's hitting especially hard right now.

Send it to someone who might need to see it!

Have a great week!

—Colby

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