I kept promising myself I'd sleep earlier, focus better, scroll less. Never stuck—until I set up a few Samsung Modes & Routines, and now, my phone just gets me. With a few tweaks, my phone stopped distracting me and started helping me show up.
5 Sleep Mode
The first Mode I set up—and probably my most important—was Sleep Mode. Late-night notifications were wrecking my sleep, and since I couldn’t stop myself when I saw a ping, I’d end up tending to it, which inevitably led to just checking one more thing before bed. Suddenly, an hour had passed, and I was deep into the doom-scrolling territory.
A good solution was toturn on DND on my Android phone closer to bedtime, but that just felt like just one more thing to remember to do when I was already exhausted. Instead, I let my phone handle it for me.
Now, at 11:00 PM sharp, my phone shifts into Sleep Mode automatically, transforming my screen (and my habits) in one go:
- Grayscale kicks in, subtly telling my brain that the fun’s over and it’s time for bed.
- DND activates, so I don’t get any notifications except for emergencies.
- My screen brightness drops, so even if I sneak a peek, it's not as enticing.
- Power saver mode turns on, shutting down unnecessary background activity.
- My wallpaper changes to something calming, just in case I unlock my phone out of habit.
If I manually enable Sleep Mode earlier in the evening, I have to turn it off myself. But if it turns on as scheduled, my phone automatically switches back to normal when my sleep schedule ends. Either way, ithelps me avoid doom-scrolling, and I wake up feeling more rested.
Modes are the more serious option here, offering more customization and even restricting app access. Routines are more lightweight, triggering specific actions when certain conditions are met.
4 Work/Study Mode
Unlike Sleep Mode, my work schedule isn't always predictable. Some days, I’m at the office; other days, I’m working from home. Occasionally, I’m holed up in a coffee shop, pretending the ambient noise makes me more productive.
Because of this, I usually enable Work Mode manually. But I’ve also set it to turn on automatically whenever I arrive at my office (or back when I was in school, on campus). The moment it kicks in, my phone also gets down to business:
- Social media apps and other distracting apps are restricted.
- Notifications are silenced except for work-related calls and messages.
- My wallpaper switches to something more professional, so I don’t accidentally expose my details while sharing my screen or showing my colleagues something on my phone.
Before setting this up, I’d take a 'quick' Instagram break only to look up 20 minutes later, wondering where the time went. Now, if I try to open Instagram (or any restricted app), I hit a roadblock, forcing me to ask myself if I really need to check the app at that time. Spoiler: I usually don’t.
The good thing about this Mode is that it works just as well for studying as it does for work.
3 Morning Routine
Out of all my Modes and Routines, this one has had the biggest impact. Instead of waking up and immediately doom-scrolling, my Morning Routine gently nudges me toward a more intentional start.
At 6 AM sharp, the moment my alarm goes off, my phone automatically sets the tone for my day:
- My Bible app opens.
- Spotify, my favorite music player, resumes where it left off, so I get my morning soundtrack without fumbling for it.
- Screen brightness adjusts gradually, so I’m not instantly blinded by my phone so early in the day.
Setting this up took a little tinkering. Unlike preset Samsung Modes, which are front and center, Samsung’s preset Routines are a bit hidden. You have to tap the compass icon in the top-right corner of the Routines page. I actually built this one by tweaking the Morning Music option.
My phone detects my wake-up time automatically, most likely from my Sleep Mode schedule. Once my alarm goes off, the Routine starts running. And if I need to stop it, a quick tap in the notification panel does the trick.
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2 Duolingo Lessons Routine
After setting up Modes and Routines for work and better sleep, I figured I’d set up another one to stay consistent with learning French and German on Duolingo. The second I launch the app, this Routine starts running:
- Do Not Disturb activates.
- My screen timeout is extended, so I don’t have to keep tapping my screen to wake up when I’m deep in thought.
- A 20-minute timer starts running, keeping me aware of how much time I’ve spent (or have left).
I set this up by tweaking the At School preset Routine, and it works well (mostly). The only catch is that the timer resets if I exit Duolingo, even for a second. So if I accidentally swipe out or check a message, the moment I return, a new 20-minute countdown begins. It’s quite annoying. But on the bright side, it does make me think twice before leaving the app mid-lesson.
1 Relax Mode
Out of all my Modes, Relax Mode might just be my favorite. I usually enable it manually when I want to unplug, whether I’m visiting friends, spending time with my partner, or just trying to disconnect from work stress.
Here’s how my phone transforms:
- Thanks to DND, my notifications are minimal, with only calls from family and my closest friends coming through.
- Social media stays accessible, but all my work-related apps are blocked.
- The screen shifts to a warmer tone, making it feel less harsh and intrusive.
- Power saver mode also turns on, so I'm not constantly bothered about my battery level.
- My wallpaper changes to something calming because, yes, visuals matter.
Although I usually turn Relax Mode on manually, it also activates automatically when I plug in my headphones, start reading in ReadEra, play media in specific apps, enable Flight Mode, or launch a game.
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While these Modes and Routines have completely changed my habits, they’re also deeply personal. For example, I didn’t set up Exercise Mode because my workouts mostly involve just walking to the office and back home. But if fitness is a big part of your life, it could be a total game-changer.
That’s the beauty of Samsung’s system: it’s incredibly flexible. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Just start with the default Modes, tweak them, and gradually shape them to fit your lifestyle.
