How to use Do Not Disturb, the best way to set limits on your iPhone's notifications

One common New Year's resolution in the age of smartphones is to disconnect more and live in the present.

If you're trying to set better limits on how you use technology in 2017, and you're an iPhone user, you should use a feature called Do Not Disturb.

Although it won't shock you if you mindlessly scroll on Instagram for hours, it will help you control the notifications that sometimes lead to mindless email, social networks, and texting.

Although Do Not Disturb is built into every single iPhone, and has been for years, it can be a little bit confusing to get started. But when you do, you'll find it's perhaps the most powerful tool Apple provides for controlling when you receive those distracting, attention-grabbing notifications (except for perhaps turning your phone off entirely).

When I first used Do Not Disturb earlier this year, I wondered why I hadn't started using it sooner. Here's what you need to know: