How To Stop Obsessing Over Your Smartphone

The average person checks their phone 46 times a day. They spend almost 5 hours of their day on their phone. And, they spend an average of 10 minutes of those hours on any given app. As more and more people report feeling addicted to their phones, the need for solutions becomes more urgent.

Why Do We Need to Reduce Phone Addiction

Is technology really as harmful as people say? No! It’s not. The fact is, our phones connect us to people we know, share experiences, and connect us to information we could never find on our own. They also allow us to take pictures, research what we need, and entertain ourselves when we’re bored. There are definitely ways to use technology in positive ways. However, the danger comes when we place more emphasis on our phones than we do in living our lives and spending time with the people in our lives. While some of us are more prone to becoming addicted to our phones than others, in reality, technology is not making our lives worse. We are the ones who are doing the harm by constantly checking our phone. So, what are we doing wrong? Why are we addicted?

How Bad is Phone Addiction?

The majority of children and teens check their phones an average of 83 times a day. And, 30% of adults check their phone more than 500 times a day. Is it really just a matter of willpower? The number of studies on whether willpower is an adequate motivator has now exploded. Many recent reviews have concluded that willpower is not an adequate motivation for maintaining behaviour change and only about 3% of people can maintain long-term willpower. Withdrawal symptoms have been shown to be almost as powerful as drugs in helping people give up smoking.

How to Do it The Right Way?

The result is that you spend less time engaging with your family, friends and life You are not taking advantage of the wonderful world around you because you are staring at a screen You might even start to resent the technology you’ve become addicted to And you’ll waste a lot of time not doing the things you’d rather be doing Here are 10 simple ways to put your phone away when you are with others: 1. Turn off notifications You don’t need to deal with a single ping sound every time an email pops up. If you can’t resist them, take a screen shot. But make sure you are saving the important messages so you can act on them.

Why Phone Addiction is Bad?

According to a recent University of Chicago survey, 20% of people admitted to having high addiction levels when it came to the phone. Furthermore, the study concluded that 46% of the population felt addiction-like symptoms when using the device. In 2013, the Duke University Health System conducted a study of 20,000 individuals across more than 30 countries. They discovered that the average smartphone user checks their device 43 times a day, and spends about 5 hours on the device per day. What’s the best way to stop obsessing over your phone Although you might like the idea of having your phone constantly by your side and giving you access to the internet, there are a few simple things you can do to keep your use of the phone in check.

Tips on How to Reduce Phone Addiction

To learn how you can reduce your dependence on your smartphone, check out these stories. How To Stop Obsessing Over Your Phone Another Reason To Stop Obsessing Over Your Phone Here are some examples of the advice therapists give to patients.

Put mobile devices away when you’re with friends or family

When you’re out with friends or family, put your phone in a different room so you’re not tempted to check it for updates. And, make sure you leave your phone in your pocket or bag so that you aren’t tempted to take it out. Keep mobile devices out of sight and easy reach -Put your phone on airplane mode when you’re at home -Do a “phone cleanse” by giving your phone a break for a few days. Put your phone away and when you get it back, turn it on and see how many notifications you have. Then, review and either delete or respond to those messages.

Keep mobile devices out of sight and easy reach

When you’re not using your smartphone, it is impossible to see how many times you’ve unlocked it. And you’re likely to spend more time scrolling through social media than you think. Studies show that having the opportunity to self-regulate yourself can greatly reduce these behaviors. Also, smartphone makers have hidden tools in their apps to tell you how much time you’re spending on your phone, how many times you unlocked it, and how often you use certain features. Set “allowance” and reward yourself for getting through each day without using your phone. Set a goal of a specific number of days that you plan to spend without your smartphone. For example, you can set a goal to not use your smartphone for a period of three consecutive days. Once you reach that goal, it’s time to celebrate!

Use apps that know how long you use your device and will give reminders when it is time to take a break

Are you trying to stop obsessing over your phone? Head to the Motivational Interview to see real people use behavioural therapy for smartphone addiction. Click here to learn more.

Conclusion

For a society to flourish, people have to take care of each other, participate in each other’s lives, and take care of each other and our planet. But, when too many people focus on themselves instead of taking care of each other, and too many people fail to participate in the life of their community, they will often have to defend against the onslaught of attacks and attacks from strangers, which most people will feel powerless to prevent. This is one reason why this networked era is more and more perceived by people as a source of isolation and loneliness. This is particularly true for the people in communities who have been left behind by the industrial revolution and the modernization process over the last century. It’s time for us to recover our connections with each other.