Our smartphones entertain us, keep us organized, keep us company and basically run our lives for us. I’m pretty sure we all get a little compulsive with our phones and check them more often than we need to.
When was the last time you actually had to dial a phone number to reach a friend?
Could you remember someone’s birthday without checking your contact book or logging into Facebook?
Reasons why we need to curb our smartphone addiction and stop checking our phones all the time:
- Our phone addiction can become a safety issue! When we’re completely engrossed in what’s going on in our phones, we sometimes miss what’s going on around us. Take for example this girl who falls into a mall fountain while texting or the teenage girl who falls into a sinkhole while distracted by cell phone. So texting while doing anything other than sitting down can be a hazard.
- Checking your phone too much can hurt your self-esteem. How often are you disappointed when you check your phone, only to see that no one has texted or emailed you? And if you’re waiting for someone to get back to you, constantly checking will not make them reach out faster.
- Our smartphones should never replace our real life friendships. When we’re spending quality time with our friends, we shouldn’t have to make a conscious effort to put our phones away, it should just be natural. The phone shouldn’t take up table space – if there’s an emergency, you’ll know. But having a phone sit at the table with you and your friend is not only distracting but a little rude.
- Additionally, our smartphones should not act as a second “brain”. What did we do before we had smartphones that could track every appointment, meeting or playdate this month? I vaguely remember these things called an agenda? Pen and paper also work well.
- Disengaging once in a while is not only needed but can actually help you connect better. Being ‘unavailable’ can be a good way to refresh your mind and give you some peace and quiet. The social world will go on without you – take the time to unwind and regroup.
Phone addiction is no joke but there are ways to manage our phone time and stay connected without being enslaved to our precious phones. Not answering notifications right away, being disciplined about not using your smartphone when you’re spending time with friends and family and turning your phone off while you sleep are a good start.
Living an uninterrupted life is completely achievable. We just have to start somewhere.
I’m sure there’s more but that’s as far as I’ve gotten with curbing my smartphone addiction. What are some other tips and tricks for managing your phone time? Comment and share below!
