Lose Phone, Gain Time
Let’s face it, we have relationships with our mobile devices. Not like the thing Joaquin Phoenix had going on with Scarlett Johansson’s voice in 2013’s “Her,” though some people may indeed be in love with their phones. I’m talking more about the time we spend face-to-face with our devices, and whether that time is quality.
We each have to spend considerable alone time with our phones, either for work or just general communication. They’re integrated into our lives now. There’s no going backward. Even my children knew how to swipe before they knew how to wipe.
It’s estimated that Americans check their phone on average once every 12 minutes. In other words, we look at our phones at least 80 times a day. Asurion (the company that insures your phone) conducted a study which determined the average person looks at their phone at least every 10 minutes. (New York Post, Living Section, November 8, 2017)
So what’s wrong here? Pretty much everything. Do we need to be spending this much time alone with our phone? No.
Let’s get some time back.
Call to Action:
- Set a phone curfew. Nutritionists say not to eat after 8pm. How about no phone time after 8pm? (I tried this and it’s amazing)
- Pick your social media poison and stay there. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat. What’s the diff, really? Ditch all but one. You’ll survive. Or, challenge yourself to follow only the most important people in your life.
- Don’t “screen out” in front of your kids. It will only enable them later in life when *God forbid* they get their own device.
- Put your phone in the trunk (or other non-reachable place) when you drive. Don’t be like all the other drivers that pick up at stop lights for a hit.
- Lose your phone for a while. Seriously. Misplace it. Leave it where you normally wouldn’t. The texts, mentions, voice and e-mails, and pings will all be there. Waiting for YOU.
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Photo by Alexander Kustov on Unsplash