For those that use smartphones, it can be a struggle to put down that phone and stop checking all the time. Some people even experience withdrawal symptoms if they go a few hours without looking at their phone.
Our phones have determined when we wake up, who we talk to and what we watch. Having been an avid phone user myself I’ve asked myself the question. Do we need to use our phones less?
Using your phone less helps you in many ways. You can focus on important things such as your work , You participate in emotionally-valuable social interaction and in the end you just feel happier in general.
Social interaction is probably the most significant thing you need to consider. Without verbal conversation with someone you care for your face to face social life can suffer. When I was younger I used to spend hours on my laptop and my phone and suffer from social anxiety. Some things are easier to talk about in person than on the phone. People can tend to be more hard-hearted and less compassionate on the phone.
Which Social Networks we use also really impacts our behavior and Mood. It was shown that looking at certain types of online content, your mood may change or you end up doing something more one-sided.
Social media is one of the most important aspect in determining the mood of the people. Social media really allows us to connect with people, share our thoughts, feelings and information.But what exactly is social media? Why we need it? What goes on behind the scenes of the social media world? And we have always wondered what is going on in the heads of people we see hundreds and thousands of times on our screens.
Essentially YouTube ranking algorithms is the cause of it all. The main motive of this trend is to make people watch more videos hence the usage of an algorithm to push content on the viewers.
Here you can learn some tips to help you break free and find more balance with your phone.
Pay attention to how you feel and you will be amazed at the effects of these 5 tips.
- Take an emotional temperature check. Set your notifications, do not unlock your phone, and then go about your day for a few hours. If the first thing that you want to do is check your phone, it means that you have a desire and that you give value to it. Take a minute to reflect on why you feel this way. This reflection is a great opportunity for introspection and to learn more about yourself.
- Be more intentional in your digital consumption. If you wear an Apple Watch and use Apple Health, glance at your heart rate throughout the day. If your heart rate increases when you check your phone, then you have a problem.
- To test your willpower, turn off your notifications for a certain period of time. Just do it! Make the call and turn off your notifications. You will find that all your accounts that can send you notifications, will immediately try to get you back on. This makes it even easier for you to send and receive notifications. Therefore, turning them off is an act of power!
- Pop your head up. Look up at the people and the world around you and take an instant to appreciate the moment and the present moment. Be present.
- Go for it. Put your phone in a drawer and see what happens. Put your phone in your pocket and take an hour to relax.
At the end of the day, cell phones are just tools. Something that we have and use. We need to be conscious and aware to use them. Play around with these ideas and find out what works for you.
Facts about Smartphones:
- Among the people who use their phones up to a dozen times everyday, fully 44% say they are frustrated when their phone dies on them.
- In 2016, the mobile industry generated revenue of $1.8 billion through add revenue.
- 42% of consumers say that ads on their mobile device are the least helpful to them in their search for information.
- Having a Smartphone also negatively impacts your sleep. For adults ages 18 to 26, 10% of their sleep time is spent in front of their phone.
- Children and teens spend over 6 hours daily in front of a screen that includes social media (Facebook/Google/YouTube/Snapchat etc.)
