Learn how Kevin Kamis uses iPhone Focus Modes to block distractions, stay productive, and run Launch Kit without burnout. Full setup and free checklist included.
There was a moment about three months ago where I caught myself standing at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. I instinctively reached for my phone. But this time, I didn’t pull it out. The urge was still there, but I paused, smiled a little, and just stayed present.
That’s when I realized: I’ve actually broken free. Not in the dramatic, throw-your-phone-in-a-lake kind of way. I still post daily on social media. I run a marketing agency. I’m about as techy as it gets. But I’ve created space. My phone no longer has a grip on me.
And in this post, I’m going to show you exactly how I set up my iPhone to make this shift possible.
If you run a business, manage a team, or just want more mental energy to think clearly and execute your goals, this is for you.
We're going to talk about how to use Apple’s Focus Modes to:
And to make this easier, I made a free worksheet that breaks all of this down into a step-by-step checklist. You can download that via this page.
For context, my name is Kevin Kamis. I’m the founder of Launch Kit — a marketing agency based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We help local service businesses with websites, CRM, photo, video, social media, and digital ads.
Personally, I’m a huge nerd for productivity and systems, so I make content like this to share what I’ve learned along the way.
Alright, let’s break this down.
I have seven Focus Modes set up on my iPhone:
Each one is designed for a specific moment of my day. Here’s exactly how I use each one.
I don’t use this. It’s the default focus mode Apple gives you, and I honestly would delete it if I could. Custom modes are much more effective.
Used for: Any workout (gym, walking, running, Apple Fitness+)
Trigger: Automatically turns on when I start a workout on my Apple Watch.
People allowed: Significant other and Ring Security.
Apps allowed: Ring.
The goal here is simple: protect my workouts from unnecessary distractions. I used to check my phone between sets, get pulled into Instagram, and lose momentum. Now, with Fitness mode on, I stay present.
This small change completely reframed exercise for me. It’s no longer something to check off. It’s a time to invest in the one body I’ve got.
I don’t use a special Home Screen here, because I don’t even touch my phone during workouts anymore. That’s the point.
Used for: Meditation, journaling, sauna, unplugged weekends.
Trigger: Manual — I turn this one on myself.
People allowed: No one. Not even significant other.
Apps allowed: Ring only.
Mindfulness mode is a complete blackout. I want total quiet here. Ellen and I recently spent a weekend up north completely unplugged. This was the mode I had on the entire time. Highly recommend.
Used for: Waking up with intention and peace of mind.
Trigger: Scheduled daily from 5:55 AM to 7:00 AM.
People allowed: Family, Ring.
Apps allowed: Ring, Tesla (important for preheating the car in Michigan).
Custom Home Screen:
This focus mode has made my mornings dramatically better. The contrast between my old routine and this is huge. I used to wake up and instantly get hit with notifications, emails, and news. Now I ease into the day with clarity. It’s when I get some of my best ideas.
Used for: Reading on iPad or paperback.
Trigger: Automatically when reading on the Books app, or manually if I’m reading a physical book.
People allowed: Family + team members.
Apps allowed: Google Chat, HubSpot, Phone, Quo, Ring.
This one is interesting. I allow team and client communication through, but block all social and entertainment. Sometimes I’ll read a business book mid-day during the week and still want to be reachable by my team.
If I’m reading fiction on a weekend, I’ll use Mindfulness mode instead. That’s the beauty of this setup. You know what each mode is for, and you use them intentionally.
Used for: Evening wind-down and restful sleep.
Trigger: Tied to Apple Health sleep schedule. Activates at 8:55 PM, turns off at 5:55 AM.
People allowed: Family, Ring.
Apps allowed: Ring, Sleep Cycle (my alarm app).
I use the same stripped-back Home Screen as my Morning mode. If I grab my phone before bed, I’m not seeing inboxes or social apps pulling me in. It’s just calm.
Used for: My core work hours during the week.
Trigger: Scheduled from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
People allowed: Significant other.
Apps allowed: Google Chat, HubSpot, Quo, and other essential business tools.
Email: Notifications OFF. I check email once a day, just like physical mail.
Social Media: Notifications OFF. I use Metricool to manage DMs and comments — once per day.
This setup is a massive unlock for productivity. I’m not jumping between tabs or checking every ping. I stay locked in. I get deep work done. And I still have energy left at the end of the day.
I set these up for myself a while ago and they’ve been great. Lately, I’ve started encouraging my team to build their own versions of this.
Here’s why it matters: if I do this, it helps. If the team does it too, the entire culture improves.
You don’t need to go full monk mode. But even if you’re on call or have a demanding schedule, you can still filter out the noise and let only the right signals through.
For me during the workday, those signals are:
That’s it. Everything else can wait. This doesn’t make me unreachable. It makes me effective.
You just need to take control of settings you’ve probably never touched. These Focus Modes are how I stay off the hamster wheel and actually move things forward.
It’s how I’ve gone from reactive to intentional. Once you get a taste of that clarity, you’ll never want to go back.
To help you implement everything I covered here, I created a free worksheet that outlines each mode, app settings, people settings, and trigger rules. It’s built to be printed or followed on-screen.
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