Should you be making a goal to check your phone less in 2015?

I love my iPhone, social media, group text threads, and anything related to “staying connected”. Technology in itself is not bad and has made our lives better to a certain degree, but it’s very easy to go overboard. I didn’t realize how “addicted” I was to my phone until my husband mentioned something about me being on it often. It got to the point where my right thumb would start hurting throughout the day (please tell me I’m not alone in this), and I knew I had to do something.

Please don’t misunderstand me here, I’m not against going on my phone or using social media, etc., but I am against how often I do it. Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you have your phone on the table when you’re out to eat with friends?
• Is your phone always in the same room as you are?
• Do you have your phone open during the “duller” moments throughout the day, such as waiting in line somewhere, sitting at a stop light, or even a Hulu commercial break?

Our brain works less when we mindlessly entertain it during those duller moments instead of letting it rest.  It is good to be “bored” and let your mind wander without having to look at your phone. Those moments are when you can come up with ideas, think creatively, or challenge yourself. Take small steps away from filling each moment where you aren’t doing something with looking at your phone.

Three Solutions

Instagram Addition: Since I identified my problem, I had to come up with a solution. Instagram was a big one for me as I found myself checking it often, especially immediately after I post a photo. Now when I post a photo, I set a timer on my phone for 20 minutes where I can’t check it until then. What ends up happening is I forget all about posting and go even longer without checking the app.

Checking Your Phone: An app that I believe everyone should download is Checky. It shows you how often you check your phone a day. When I downloaded the app, I decided to forget about it for a day and go about how I normally check my phone to see how bad my habit was. The end of the first day, I had checked my phone 54 times. I don’t do anything 54 separate times a day. I set a goal for myself to check it less than 30 times, and then lowered it the easier that got. My lowest total since downloading this app has been 16.

The Time On Your Phone: I don’t spend a lot of time on my phone once I’m on it, it’s really checking it often that is my problem. If you spend a lot of time on your phone when you should be doing other things, then you should think about tracking how many minutes you’re using it.  The app Moment does just that.  I have yet to try this app, but have it downloaded and am interested to see the results. Think about those minutes on your phone and be determined to get those numbers lower. How can you spend those minutes doing something to better yourself?

Even if you don’t have a smart phone “addiction”, it is a great rule of thumb to put your phone away when others are talking to you.

Are you resolving to check your phone less?

Do you have any other tips for being on your phone less?

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2015 by thedressdecoded | 3 Comments