The Power of Powering Off Your Phone for Just an Hour
We need them, we want them, we can't live without them. Smartphones have become more than just communication devices. They are an extension of who we are.
When we are bored, phones provide us with comfort; when we are sad, they hold the key to our happiness; when we are self-conscious, we turn to them to keep us occupied. They are the hub of our daily activities, windows to the world, not to mention a source of our safety with an emergency number available to us at all times.
Smartphones have received a lot of bad press, with many people wondering about their addictive nature. Nomophobia, which describes a fear of being without a phone, is often associated with phone overuse. Constant phone checking, obsessive use of messaging, social networking, news-reading, constantly seeking that elusive bargain often cause anxiety and adverse mental health outcomes.
Overusing the phone results in higher stress levels, lower life satisfaction, increased anxiety, depression, and poorer sleep quality. This is why my student Nicola Hughes and I designed an experiment that we hoped would help people get the best out of their phones and ensure they also have a good night's sleep.
Imagine if you were asked to switch off your phone an hour before bed and keep it off all night. How would you feel about this? We invited professionals from the UK who tended to use their phones a lot and requested that they do precisely this.
Compared with the control group, the well-being and the quality of life for those who switched off their phone before going to bed have increased.
Switching off your phones is a slight change you can make that significantly impacts your life. It costs you nothing; it saves the environment, not to mention the array of benefits you could gain from doing this. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. So why not give it a try starting this evening?
*I know that in today's day and age, we are all attached to our phones. It's become more of a necessity than a want, in my opinion, but we definitely don't need to be checking out emails hours after the work day has ended. I am guilty of using my phone for many more hours than I should be. I tend to average about 8 hours on my phone per day (yikes!). I do like to think that I use my phone for positive things as well, like staying in touch with friends and work-related business. But, I do know that I could lower my time spent on there 100%*
Do you think you spend too much time on your phone? Does it affect your daily activities?
#Phone #ScreenTime
Read the full article here.
@fruityPond7887
Oh Gosh, talk about the "you don't really acknowledge it till you realise it accidentally" moments--- this is so true haha, our devices have definitely become such a huuuuuge part of our lives, almost overpowering every other part in more ways than one. Soooo neeeded to be mindful of the usage and to try these kinda "breaks". I definitely need it too lol. Thanks for another amazing thread, Pond! Great content! ❤️
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou Thank you so much Sun! Yeah, it's definitely we spend a lot of time on and more so than we realize! So far this week, I spent a daily average 10 hours and 4 minutes on the phone hahah oops. Most of it probably on TikTok 😭
@fruityPond7887 aw haha it do be like that sometimes :') *cries with you and hugssss* hey hey, atleast we are acknowledging it truthfully (or trying to lol) and seems like a good first step to reduce the screen time 🤧 we got thissss❤
@fruityPond7887 absolutely haha
As part of my sociology lecture last semester we conducted an experiment/challenge to not check our devices first thing in the morning for at least hour which ended up being very revealing but also helpful
most of us got more stuff done around the house and felt fresher
using phones and other devices for educational purposes is great and as well as entertainment but as with everything it should be in moderation
@zealousGrace5023 I agree! But honestly, the morning is when I check my phone the most so I think I would have a hard time with that. I do it without even thinking! I'd love to try that experiment, but I don't think I have the willpower.
@fruityPond7887 i felt the same
Plus not everyone has the luxury to not check for a whole hour in the morning and maybe completely cutting it out would be extreme or impossible because of certain obligations but even as little as washing your face and brushing your teeth maybe stretching a bit before checking your phone the moment you wake up makes a world of difference
@zealousGrace5023 I agree! Maybe 15-30 minutes could be a good goal :) I'll *consider* 😂 trying and see how it goes!
[Edited by @theriverissinging on personal request]
@fruityPond7887 haha well if you do good luck :p
@fruityPond7887
Super guilty reading this. I feel like I'm on my phone for so long at certain times that I can't help but feel bored and quickly underwhelmed with the outside world unless I'm searching up or consuming social media.
@sunnyWriting4806 Oh I totally understand! I sometimes find myself just literally scrolling so I have something to do with my hands. I sometimes also close out the app and then open it 2 minutes later just because it's habit.