Feeling addicted to your phone? Try this...

Feeling addicted to your phone? Especially the mindless scrolling and getting lost down rabbit holes

I hear you. That’s exactly me. I hate it.

Phones are addictive. They’re meant to keep you glued to the screen. But we all know that spending hours scrolling is not good for our mental health.

So this is something I’m doing that may help you too. I’m redefining my phone norms. To help me, and also model restrained phone use to my kids too (who are starting secondary school in September- eeeek! How did that happen )

---

Does your phone goes pretty much everywhere you do - to work, to the shops, on walks, on holiday, to bed, even to the bathroom?

Then not use the next few weeks to assess your usage and the norms around it. Maybe take a day or two to observe how, when and why you use your phone. Then, make up five new phone norms.

These could be just for yourself, or you could come up with them as a family.

Here are some examples...

PHONE NORM 1

When out and about with others, put your phone in a bag so it’s just a little bit harder to access than it is in your pocket

PHONE NORM 2

Designate phone-free TIMES in your house, such as...

~ mealtimes

~ one hour before bed

~ one hour first thing in the morning

PHONE NORM 3

Designate phone-free AREAS, such as...

~ the bedroom (buy an alarm clock )

~ the dining table (talk to your family )

~ the toilet (read a book! )

PHONE NORM 4

Think about times you could go out & leave

your phone behind.

Then choose one and stick to it.

PHONE NORM 5

Consider taking social media apps off your phone, at least for the summer.

So you have to actively log into them on a computer to access them - and won’t scroll mindlessly.

---

And yes there is a HUGE irony that I am writing this on my phone! Instead of engaging with my children or reading the book that’s on my lap

If anyone wants to start a little accountability group, let me know. Together is often easier

Susan x