Mobile phones provide us with immediate connection to friends and family. We use them for work, to check our mailboxes, to tune into video meetings, and to remind us of appointments. We use them to read books, the news and for searching information to provide us with answers. We use them for fun, for gaming and entertainment. We use them to take photos and to share with others. But who is in control? You or your phone?
Recent research has shown that New Zealanders are using their phones more and more frequently.
According to recent data, the average person spends 4 hours and 37 minutes on their phone every day. That’s the equivalent of over 1 day per week or 6 days per month. Across a year, that’s approximately 70 days spent looking at a phone.
The downsides of mobile phone use are more frequently indicating symptoms of distraction, addiction, sleep disruption, eye strain all impacting on physical health. Overuse can lead to anxiety and social isolation. And the downside is there is less and less real time interaction and communication. Additionally constantly being on your phone offers limited or even no time for physical activity.
How can you reduce the impact and regain more family time?
Checking your phone reports to see how much time per week you are spending on your phone may prove eye opening and is a good place to start.
Set boundaries for usage by allocating certain times for checking social media and emails.
Turn off your phone while you are eating dinner and before you go to bed. This provides a double advantage with increased one to one time with the family.
Break free from constantly checking your phone.
Disabling notifications minimises the need to constantly check your phone. It has been proven that notifications are a subtle way of making you respond to your phone immediately. Even turning off the notification sound can make a difference.
Additionally when looking at a notification you may find yourself compelled to look at other things. It is hard to avoid the distractions. Notifications can disrupt focus and concentration. It may take 60-90 seconds to refocus on the task that you were originally doing.
Another study showed that limiting social media screen time to 30 minutes a day proved a bonus for health and well-being.
If you want a good night’s sleep set the phone to do not disturb.
And then there is the etiquette of not using your phone in social situations. There is nothing worse than going out to dinner or lunch and being besieged with someone else’s conversations.
The best advice is to start small and progress a little at a time. Regain time lost and engage in real conversation.
Interestingly there is an International Day of Unplugging. Held on the 6th-7th March phones are turned off for 24 hours. Community organisations get involved offering real life interaction. In March next year watch out. Martinborough could commit to an Unplugged Day. Hear the buzz of people talking. But not on their phones!!
