Smartphones have become a way of life for many people. Modern society has made them so easy to use that many of us don’t realize how much toxic time we spend on our phones. For some, the only time they take for themselves is during their phone-free hour each day. Others try to make an effort to reduce the amount of time they spend on their phones, but struggle as they see instant gratification from the screens in their lives.
If you want to reclaim your time and make it healthier, these are some tips that can help you live phone-free for at least part of your day.
The Toxic Nature of Smartphone Use
The more we use our smartphones, the less time we seem to have. It’s easy to see how even small amounts of time spent on your phone can add up quickly. With social media and email just a few clicks away, it’s hard for us to resist the temptation of immediate gratification.
But what does it mean to live without a phone? Are these phone-free hours necessary? How can you reclaim your time and make it healthier?
One way is by developing an effective digital detox plan. Some people are able to go as far as disconnecting their phones from the internet entirely, while others might only limit their social media use or keep their phones in another room.
How to Take Phone-Free Time
– Have a family meeting and discuss the amount of time spent on your phones. Establish boundaries and make sure that you are all with one another more often than not.
– Schedule phone-free time into your day. This can be as simple as putting your phone away for a few minutes during lunch or setting aside specific times each day when you don’t use your phone.
– Take breaks from screen time. Even if you’re doing something productive on your phone, you might find it easier to focus when you’re taking short breaks from screens so that you can switch gears and get back in the habit of focusing on what’s around you.
How to Make Phone-Free Hours Work For You
First, you need to identify the time that is best for you. For some people, it’s early in the morning or at night. Others might have a long lunch break or find space in their schedule during the day. Keeping track of these times and avoiding screens during these periods can help you reclaim your time.
Second, figure out what you want to do with your time when you’re not on your phone. Are there activities that are must-dos? Perhaps it’s reading a book or playing a game with friends. Whatever it is, take note and plan out how much time you’ll need to devote to that activity each day.
Third, keep your phone on silent or do without it all together during these periods of the day. If possible, spend part of your phone-free hours without any interactions from technology at all–you’ll feel more relaxed and productive than before when you come back to work and use the same old screens again!
Conclusion
Is there a way to make phone-free time work for you?
Yes, there is! It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the amount of work that needs to be done each day. But if you start to focus on how your time is used, you’ll find it’s possible to make more phone-free time work for you.
You just have to convince yourself that it’s worth it.
