Imagine giving up your phone for a month. No notifications, social media, YouTube videos, news, or calls. Would you be able to survive and how would it change your daily routine and lifestyle? Well according to Harmony Healthcare, approximately 46% to 53% of Americans have a deep dependency on their phones. Globally up to 84% of people say they cannot go a single day without their phone or mobile device.
In the last decade technology has improved an insane amount. Years ago the phone only had physical buttons instead of touchscreens, but now it’s completely different. This is obviously a luxury, but these effects impact physical and mental health.
Excessive phone usage affects the physical health of people young and old. For example, blue light from the screens prevents melatonin production disrupting our sleep cycle. Poor sleep leaves many people fatigued, less alert, and unable to retain information. This is all extremely crucial to people who work, go to school and participate in sports.
A study published by the Journal of Community Medicine and Health Education examined phone usage among college students aged 17-23. It was found that 96% used their phones throughout the day with over 50% reporting of headaches, anxiety and reduced concentration. This is evident that using your phone for communication, information, and even entertainment isn’t automatically bad, but when it becomes a habit and an addiction that’s when problems can begin to happen.
Ways to prevent phone addiction from happening is to add restrictions to create healthier habits. One solution can be with a simple click of a button. Limiting screen time with the built in screen time tool on any Apple device, clicking the DO NOT DISTURB button on the slide down control panel to limit notifications, and even leaving the phone to charge for a couple hours during the day to be able to be device free to focus on real life things.
Treating your device as a reward instead of a necessity is a great way to create healthy habits while still being able to tap back into your device everyday without harm. Taking time to avoid screen time while working, doing homework, school and even social settings can help connect more and retain information clearly.
Constantly being stuck on your device can make you feel “foggy” and eventually separated from what’s really going on. Avoiding screen time at night is very important because it helps maintain a healthy sleep schedule. It doesn’t take away from your body’s natural melatonin and doesn’t stress out your eyes right before bedtime.
Using your phone daily isn’t necessarily an issue, it becomes harmful when it becomes an addiction. Maybe try going for two days without it and see how it benefits you!