Technology and especially your phone has become a crucial part of your life. You cant leave the room without grabbing it, or even worse, you forget your phone at home and your day is ruined. Your use of technology can benefit you in many ways, however, you may not know how to balance out your technology use. Being engaged in your phone limits your social interactions and can be used as an easy way for you not to talk to the person sitting next to you. It becomes a habit for you to pick up your phone when you are spending time with family or watching TV with your significant other. You may not think that these so called “small problems” are impacting your mental health and your relationships. However, these small problems exacerbate other problems in your life and give you a reason to distract from the real struggles you may be experiencing. These 5 strategies to limiting your technology use will enable you to build strong relationships and open up your mind to the world you are missing out on when you are starting int your phone.
- Do not take it into the bedroom: NO PHONE ZONE! Taking your phone into your bedroom encourages you to stay up late and little sleep impacts your mood and energy level.
- Do not wake up with it: How you start your day impacts your mood and energy for the whole day. Try starting your day by reading a book, drinking a glass of tea, or taking a walk outside.
- Set a curfew: Yes I know, this sounds silly. However, by doing this you are setting a strict boundary for yourself. The blue light that is emitted by your phone affects your levels of melatonin being produced in your brain and tells your brain that you are still awake! End your night by giving your mind and body time to unwind.
- Take days off: We take days off of work, why not take a day off from technology. Giving your brain a technology break will help you realize what great opportunities or moments in your day that you may have been missing.
- Delete or suspend social media accounts: This may be the toughest strategy for you to implement. You may feel like you will be disconnected from everyone you know. However, this may encourage you to meet up with friends and family in person. This decision will strengthen your relationships and will give you a greater sense that you are connecting with friends and family on a personal level.
By making these slight changes in your daily routine, you will start to notice that you feel less stressed, anxious, and you will recognize small things in your life that have passed you by. Finding a healthy balance will enable you to stay connected with friends and family but not impact these relationships and your mental health.