Digital addiction has become a common theme in the recent generation. The rise of the smartphone and other digital hardware has tremendously enhanced users’ experience and convenience. The number one activity to pass away free time nowadays is checking apps on a phone or tablet. This has led to an increase in loss of productivity, or worse, addiction to digital devices and programs.
So how can one rehabilitate from phone addiction?
Let us go through some key points of this topic.
What is phone addiction?
Although smartphones or computers can be useful tools, excessive usage of these can cause problems at work, school, and in relationships. It may be time to reevaluate your technology usage if you spend more time on social media or playing games than engaging with actual people.
Smartphone addiction is driven by an Internet-related addiction, known as “nomophobia” (fear of being without a mobile phone).
Smartphone addiction can include a wide range of impulse-control issues, such as:
Online relationships prioritization
Addiction to social media and messaging can progress to a point where virtual, online connections take precedence over real-life relations. We’ve all seen people dining together in a restaurant neglecting each other and instead focusing on their phones. Although the Internet can be a terrific place to gather acquaintances, stay connected with old friends, and even initiate romantic relationships, it is not a viable substitution for real-life contacts.
Real-life disconection
Compulsive web surfing, video viewing, gaming, or reading news feeds can reduce work productivity or study performance and disconnect you for hours. Compulsive Internet and mobile application utilization might drive you to overlook other elements of your life, such as real-life relationships, hobbies, and social activities.
Online compulsion
Gaming or gambling are examples of online compulsions that result in economic and employment issues. Though gambling addiction has always been recognized as a problem, the advent of online gambling has made it significantly more prevalent and problematic.
Some tips to help reduce phone addiction
- Turn off notifications
One of the first things you should do to break your phone addiction is turn off your push notifications. You may limit how much you glance at your phone by turning off all app notifications.
- Allocate apps position
You can organize your social networking apps into folders if you find it difficult to let go of them. This raises the number of taps required to open the apps to some degree, which may be all you need to break your bad practices.
- Leave the phone in storage
It’s simpler to keep away from your phone if it’s out of sight. Put your phone in your backpack when you are at home. It’s a simple approach to cutting down on your phone usage.
- Keep the phone away from your bed
The best course of action is to keep your phone far away from your bed. Use a regular clock for your morning alarm so you don’t waste time scrolling through morning news and apps on your phone.