Break your phone addiction with these simple tips. Keep reading for 5 simple ways to break away from your phone more often.
Putting down your phone can be tough.
As harmless as it may seem to check social media and your messages every few minutes, cell phones can actually be highly addictive. Setting the phone aside more often is healthy for both you and those around you.
Keep reading for a few simple tricks that will help you break away from your phone more often.
Spend Some Time Apart
One of the smartest — and simplest — ways to start breaking your phone addiction is to keep it out of your hands more often.
You can easily start doing this by keeping your phone in your pocket or purse when you’re out running errands or talking with family or friends.
Resist the urge to constantly check for new messages and status updates. Instead, try being more present and enjoying what you’re actually doing.
Be More Productive (Without Your Phone)
Let’s get something straight… smartphones do not help most of us be more productive. Besides email, very few of us use our phones for actual work.
So, instead of lying to yourself about checking your phone because of all the high profile projects you need to check in on, be honest with yourself about what you actually use your phone for.
Save the distraction-free productivity for work and get that HubSpot Mailchimp integration put together instead of constantly checking your phone.
Remove the Temptation
Want to really work on breaking your phone addiction?
Shut off all notifications.
This might seem like a bold move but, much like Pavlov’s dogs, most of us are trained to get excited about the constant stream of dings and rings.
Set Smart Limits
If none of these methods are working for you, try putting some limits on when or where you use your phone.
When you get home, stick your phone in a drawer or other area that’s out of sight. Spend some quality time with family instead of checking Facebook.
The same can — and probably should — be done at work. Silence your phone, shut off notifications, and keep it out of the way while you’re working.
Replace Old Habits
One of the best ways to kick an old habit is to replace it with a new one.
Instead of reading through social media on your phone, try picking up a real, old-fashioned book. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it.
Another smart way to replace old habits is to use a real alarm clock instead of your phone. This allows you to store your phone somewhere else while you sleep — removing the temptation to check Facebook before you nod off.
Your Turn
Cell phones can be powerfully addictive devices. But, you don’t have to let that little device get the best of you.
Start working to control the amount of time you spend using your phone and spend more time with those that matter most in life.