It can be really easy to become a slave to your phone.
Every little ping from an email, text, or app notification can be so distracting! I always feel awful when my kids are talking to me or trying to play special time. I hear my phone and feel this really strong urge to check it right away.
I don’t want my kids to grow up thinking that a small screen is more important than they are.
I’ve heard of some families switching to flip phones. That is a great choice if you want to drastically cut screen time fast! Right now, I’d rather push myself to be more disciplined.
We all have times going to restaurants or waiting rooms where kids and parents alike are glued to their phones.
Use these tips to feel in control of the time you spend on your phone. And not let your phone control you!
5 Best Tips to Reduce Phone Time Sucks
These 5 tips have been been a game changer for reducing my phone screen time!
Tip 1: Check the Screen Time on Your Phone
- It can be a real eye-opener to see where you’re at. It is amazing how much time our phones suck right out of our day!
- Don’t stress about cutting it down drastically at first. Check where your average is and work down from there.
- Even just being aware of where you’re at is a big first step and a good motivator.
- I always get excited when I can keep my screen time down to one hour or less. It is almost like a game after a while. Even if I really want to check something, it motivates me to push and hurry. I focus on what I wanna type in quickly. Then I go back to the home screen before it adds another minute.
Tip 2: Add App Limits
- You can set limits for certain apps in the settings on your phone.
- You can even set downtime for all of your apps to timeout at the same time.
- There is a section where you can choose “always allowed apps.” Even if they are timed out, you can click on them. You can add 1 more minute, 15 more minutes, or ignore the limit for today. Sometimes those extra couple clicks are a good reminder to think twice before you just go into any app.
Tip 3: Set Alarms & Designated Check Times
- Set alarms and designated times for checking email, text messages, and other notifications on your phone.
- This habit helps you stay focused on tasks when you are away from your phone. It also helps to stay laser-focused on the times when you are checking.
- I really try to keep a small notebook or post-its with me when possible. It is so easy to say, “I’ll just put that in my phone quickly so I don’t forget.” Before you know it 15-20 minutes went by. All you wanted to do was add milk to your Walmart app!
Tip 4: Set Different Ring/Text Tones for Main People
- I know it works for some people to just turn notifications off. This allows them to ignore notifications completely.
- It depends on your job and where your family lives in your life. In my life, I pretty much stay in contact with my mom, dad, and husband throughout the day. So I wouldn’t want to miss their calls and texts for the most part.
- I set their ringtones so each has a unique sound. This way, I know who it is when I hear the sound. Even if notifications are not silenced, it helps to know which ones to ignore. I can quickly know which ones to check on right away.
Tip 5: Delete Distracting Apps
- Delete social media and other very distracting apps.
- All your data is saved so you can easily reinstall and open the app.
- It does take an extra minute or two. That extra time is all you need to think twice before clicking.
- Check out this post on setting more boundaries for technology.
These tips have really helped me practice self-control. I hope you can use a couple of these to help you reduce your phone time.
Check out this post on how to use your phones productively. There are great tips for making the most of small chunks of time and taking advantage of technology!
