Mobile phones have made everyday tasks so much easier. However, despite the remarkable benefits of smartphones and the internet, we may develop an unhealthy relationship with our mobile phones and become distracted from the things that truly matter. Taking steps to control and reduce our screen time might help improve not only our interpersonal relationships, but our mental well-being as well. Sometimes, it’s good to take a break from our much-loved devices.
Strategies to Manage Your Screen Time
If you feel it’s time to curb your smartphone screen time but don't know how to go about it, here's a list of strategies to help you put your phone down and enjoy what’s in front of you.
1. Analyse Your Screen Time
If you’re ready to start reducing your potentially excessive amount of screen time, seeing a breakdown of your usage is helpful. Apple’s Screen Time and Google’s Digital Wellbeing features highlight your most frequently used apps, how many notifications you receive, and how often you check your phone. Spend too much time hooked up to your fibre broadband internet, browsing the World Wide Web? Find out your daily average and total time spent on any app, with a touch of a button. With this information, you can quickly see which apps are a problem for you.
These services also let you pause distracting apps and set daily time limits to keep you focused. For example, the “Screen Time” settings in your iPhone allows you to add a Screen Time Passcode so that only you can make changes to your settings. And by adjusting App Limits, your screen will automatically lock when you reach the daily set limits - a surefire way to mitigate the issue of too much screen time for both adults and children.
2. Develop a Better Phone Routine
Considering how much of our lives involve our smartphones, it helps to develop a routine. This way, you can ensure you use your device for tasks it's designed for, rather than to scroll aimlessly for no reason.
Reflect on how you spend your day and decide when you really don't need your phone. For example, put your device in another room when cooking dinner or leave it at home when you go for an afternoon walk.
3. Switch Off Notifications
Notifications are definitely great at keeping us up to date with what's going on. However, leaving them on for every app is one way to ensure you spend way more time than necessary looking at your screen. Instead, try switching off notifications for apps that aren’t important or aren't used much. You can even designate specific times during the day to check your device, and keep it out of your hands for longer.
4. Use ‘Offline’ Devices
There are many modern conveniences built into our smartphones. Unfortunately, that also means we naturally gravitate to our devices for so many different things. Take steps and use a range of offline tools to avoid using your phone unnecessarily.
For instance, wear a watch to check the time rather than fishing out your phone from your pocket. You could also try using a regular kitchen timer instead of the one on your phone.
One intuitive IoT device that can help you limit your screen time is a smart speaker. By using voice commands to set tasks and conduct searches, you won't need to unlock your smartphone so often.
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