Are you spending too much time on your smartphone? The digital addiction could be affecting your health. Research shows that smartphone use can lead to poor sleep, low self-esteem, memory issues and ADHD in teens. Smartphone blue light exposure is also linked to blindness. And that’s not all. Smartphone screens are also one of the dirtiest surfaces ever, even more so than your toilet seat and the desktop mouse.

One of the best ways to protect yourself is to opt for a digital detox, at least for a certain period of time. It may seem tough, as we fear missing out on things if we don’t check every now and then. But keep in mind, checking your phone and scrolling through posts regularly (especially during family time or ‘me-time’) can affect your focus and result in anxiety as well.

Here are 5 simple ways to curb your phone addiction:

* Turn off notifications: Are the endless notifications from Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram getting to you? Just retain the notifications from the most essential apps and you’ll be fine and perhaps more productive. In the process, you can check your social media accounts fewer times. After all, do you really need to know about every single like through the day?

* Keep meal times sacrosanct: Mindfulness is the buzzword of the moment. And for good reason. If you are not in the moment during family time or when out with friends, you have just wasted a good opportunity to connect with people and feel good. And no, the social media likes on the post won’t make up for the wasted time. Focus on having interesting conversations, catching up, and learning more from the company you are with. Another good practise is to keep smartphones out of the bedroom to resist the temptation to mindlessly browse or check updates.

* Delete unnecessary apps: Are you using all the apps that are cluttering your phone? Like other forms of decluttering, this one too will set you free in more ways than one. For one, you won’t have to navigate a labyrinthine screen to find the one app you actually need. It will also free up storage space, improve your phone’s battery life and reduce distractions. Chances are, your smartphone usage will drop when the phone is just used for essentials.

* Have a phone-free day: Research says you are connected to your phone all the time. Most people check their phones the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. If despite all this, you don’t feel on top of things or like a superachiever, then it’s time to go for a detox. Spare one day in the week or even just a few hours when you do not access your phone. Your emails and texts can wait for a day. Instead, seek directions from strangers, chat with people around you, or just unwind the old-school way: by reading a book, cooking or napping. You won’t regret it.

* Be accountable: Most of the times, we underestimate our digital addiction. When you realise that you were online for 15 hours out of a 24-hour day, it may just serve as a wake-up call. Install apps like QualityTime and Moment which will show you how much time you spend on each app, even if you lose track of time.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more

First Published: Aug 19, 2018 09:24 IST

Source: Read Full Article