iPhone updating tips and advice please

[Graphista]

I have an iPhone 7, this is my 3rd iPhone. I do love them generally speaking but I seem to get myself in a muddle over updates.

I switch auto updating off as I hate when it does it when I'm in the middle of something crucial/time sensitive on the phone!

But not updating causes last phone to die on me and I don't want that happening again I want to be more responsible on this.

Currently on 12.4 and update available is 13.6.1

I would really appreciate if anyone can tell me how to ensure I update smoothly without or with minimal issues and anything I need to be aware of?

Spoken to Apple and they've said it should be fine but I've had problems with updating in the past is why I'm wary. They did advise backup to cloud first which I will do.

Hoping you clever people can reassure and advise me.

I've got them updating at night when they are plugged in on WiFi. This way the update is not in the way of them being used.

I’m the same. Mine updates while I’m asleep. But yes I’m like u have bad problems with updates before and the press on their updates hasn’t always been the best.
But eventually your phone doesn’t work properly without the updates so u have to do them eventually.

Yes unfortunately I'm a very poor sleeper (always have been so not caused by screen use) and when I can't sleep I jump on the phone to distract from anxiety:

But Apple person said should take around 30-45 mins to update so that should be ok.

@Paranoidmarvin it's exactly the phones stop working issue I want to avoid - I have a weird pride in keeping my phones going way longer than Apple would like!

1st almost 5 years 2nd 3.5 years but I didn't update so it probably would have lasted longer if I'd updated.

I was also hoping for user tips if there are any relating to updating.