Warden
Turn on grayscale
Go to Settings, Accessibility, Display & Text Size, Color Filters, turn Color Filters on and choose Grayscale. You can also add Color Filters to the Accessibility Shortcut, so a triple-click of the side button switches colour back when you need it, for photos for example.
How to turn on grayscale on iPhone
Reference: Apple: Change display colors
Remove badges and most notifications
Red badges and alerts are invitations to open an app. Turn off badges for social, shopping and game apps, and keep notifications for people and things that genuinely need you. A Focus can silence the rest at set times.
Reference: Apple: Set up a Focus
Simplify your Home Screen
- Keep only tools on the first screen: phone, messages, maps, calendar, camera.
- Move social and video apps to the App Library so opening them takes a search.
- Remove widgets that show feeds or recommendations.
When boring is not enough
A grey feed is still a feed. If you keep opening the same apps, give them a schedule or a daily allowance. In Warden, Lockdown keeps ordinary early unlocks off until a block ends, and a trusted person can approve early access if you prefer.
Example: a grey week
For one week, turn on grayscale, remove every badge except messages, and keep one screen of tools. Note your Screen Time total for the week before and the week after. If it barely moves but evenings feel calmer, keep the parts you liked. If nothing changes, add a schedule for the one app that still pulls you in.
