Is anyone else living in permanent "Do Not Disturb" mode?

I recently realized my phone is on DND 24/7. Between endless social media feeds, promotional alerts, and group chats, the notification fatigue is just too real. I had to shut it all off to protect my focus.

But here is the dilemma: I still need to talk to my best friends every day. If I open standard apps (like iMessage or Instagram) just to reply to them, I immediately get sucked into a vortex of red badges and doomscrolling.

So, I’m currently building a super lightweight, widget-first messenger specifically designed for your tiny inner circle. The idea is simple: keep your phone on permanent DND, but whitelist this one app so your true VIPs can always reach you without any noise.

How do you guys manage this? Do you have any strict rules for your notifications, or apps that you allow to bypass your DND? Would love to hear your setups!