Let’s face it, having a cellphone is cool and all, but sometimes it really gets in the way of living life. There are so many things we can get more enjoyment from if only we would put down our mobile phones and enjoy the world around us. Unfortunately, breaking the cycle of using the cellphone can be a tough feat. Luckily, there are quite a few ways that you can help yourself break through the addiction while still saving some money. These ten ideas are a great way to ensure you’ll feel comfortable ditching your phone sooner than you ever expected. Best of all, July is National Cellphone Courtesy month, so you’ll find lots of support available to help you make the change.
1. Monitor Your Usage
One of the main problems people face when dealing with cellphone addiction is not knowing how long they’re actually on the phone. One of the first steps you should take is to grab a program that will help you monitor the time you spend on the phone. There are many great apps available to do this. Once you have an idea of how many hours you’re on the phone, try to cut back by a few minutes to an hour. You can do this every week to help you cut down your time quite a bit. You also might take a look at the time in which you are active. If there is a consistent pattern, then it might be wise to come up with a plan to do something else during those periods. This should help you cut back your phone time until you no longer feel the need to spend so much time on the phone.
2. Lower Your Data Plan
Another way to curb your willingness to spend hours on the phone is to lower your data plan. When you are away from your Wi-Fi, you won’t be able to spend as much time as you’d like on the phone or else you will have to deal with the repercussions of going over your data plan. This often forces you to pay a penalty on your bill, which can be enough incentive to chill out on the phone usage. Of course, you can also stop connecting your phone to the Wi-Fi at home and at work to help get even more benefits from this. Best of all, you’ll be rewarding yourself for not spending as much time on the phone, because you will spend less money on your plan when you stop going over your data agreement.
3. Schedule Time Outs
It isn’t often feasible to turn your phone off all day or to completely separate yourself from it. However, it is possible to schedule time outs for yourself. To do this, all you need to do is put your phone on airplane mode during certain periods of the day. For instance, you might enter airplane mode during mealtimes or a couple of hours before bed. This will help you to relax and will take away the temptation of sitting on your phone when you should be eating a meal. If airplane mode doesn’t do the trick for you then power down the phone completely. If worse comes to worst, you might also consider putting your phone in a box with a timer. The time outs will help you to take a step away from your phone, so you can adjust to spending less time on it. Before you know it, the time outs will come naturally and more frequently.
4. Ditch the Apps
One of the main problems that people face when they’re trying to use their phone less is a temptation. There are so many apps to choose from now that it is hard not to spend hours on every app you have downloaded. Thus, one of the best things you can do is start deleting some of the apps that are just time wasters. You might start with social media and then move on to games. Eventually, the only thing you’ll have on your phone is the basics and items you need for work. Since most people don’t want to work constantly, you might see that your phone is a lot less appealing. As long as you keep the apps off of your phone, you should find success in staying off of the phone too.
5. Allot Time For the Phone
Apart from cutting out time for the phone, you might also consider making time for the phone. Choose a time frame in which you won’t miss out on other things if you’re on the phone. For some people, the morning hours are the best for this because it is their time to wake up. Once you have your phone time set, use it to catch up on social media, play your favorite games and so much more. However, when the phone time up then turns the device off and move on with your day. This will allow you to still enjoy some of your favorite things about technology while also keeping them set to a specific time period. You might find that you desire phone time less and less.
6. Grab a Dumb Phone
If you’re worried about not having any control over your need to use the phone, then you might want to check out a dumb phone. This can constitute a wide variety of things. For starters, you can simply get an old phone that doesn’t connect to the internet. This will allow you to receive calls and texts without forcing you to spend an arm and a leg. Some companies have started coming up with phone concepts that only allow for text and calls too. These have more convenient design and are perfect starter phones for kids. The phones aren’t enticing in the slightest bit either, so you won’t feel the need to call and text unnecessarily just to use the phone.
7. Replace the Habit
Another great way to deal with phone addiction is to replace the habit with something else. For instance, you can pick up a hobby to keep you busy when you would normally be spending your time on the phone. If you’re not sure where to start with this then you might look at your phone to see what type of activity you typically would do on your phone. If you like musical games, then try to pick up an instrument. People that play games like Words with Friends might get a kick out of a word search book or a scrabble club. There are also chess clubs that can help fill that void too. If you play a lot of time management games, then consider getting out and doing the activity yourself. You’ll be surprised how much fun you can have doing these activities in real life.
8. Exercise
When it comes to breaking a habit like phone addiction, one of your best options is to actually get up and do some exercise. Whenever you feel the need to grab your phone, simply stand up and do something productive. For instance, you might go for a jog to help take your mind off of things. Another option is to do some yoga or lift weights. You might even find doing pushups or sit-ups can help take your mind off it. The key is to keep your hands busy, so you won’t be able to get on your phone. Before you know it, you’ll be healthier than ever, and you won’t want to use your phone all of the time.
9. Reward System
Of course, if you don’t do well with punishments then you might consider doing the opposite. For instance, if you can go without using your phone for a few hours then offer yourself a small treat, like a piece of chocolate or some extra TV time. As time passes and you stick to your goals, treat yourself to a little something extra like a nice cup of coffee or a meal at your favorite restaurant. You can even make an incentive for clothes, games or anything else that has been on your mind. The reward system might not take the edge off of needing your phone, but it will allow you to find joy in not using the phone. After some time, your mind will naturally stay away from the idea of using the phone.
10. Be Social
Often, people use their phone to help combat loneliness. This is a major problem with younger generations who often feel like phones are their best way of communicating with others. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through your social media feed or talking to people on an instant messenger or via text, you might make the effort to actually go out and see people. For instance, you might want to meet up with a friend or two to see a movie or go bowling. You can also just visit one another’s homes. The one on one social interaction will help you to feel more secure without your phone, so you won’t need to rely on it entirely.
There’s no doubt about it, phones can be a convenient part of life, but sometimes they can take over. These ten tips will allow you to cut back on your phone usage, so you can do more for your health and happiness. With any luck, you’ll be able to find a healthy balance, so you get more out of life.
