Hi guys! This post is about something I've been thinking about for a while. Smartphone addiction.
I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to my phone and before I got my phone I was addicted to my tablet and before that it was my computer.
I'm sure I'm not the only one that mindlessly checks for texts, emails, new pictures on instagram or new posts on facebook too many times throughout the day. It's been driving me crazy lately and I've been trying to think of ways to "unaddict" myself from my phone.
Last year we switched our home phone number over to a smart phone, so I started carrying my cell phone with me all the time, at least when my kids are at school or away from home and might need to get ahold of me. Then in April of this year my little not-smart phone stopped working and I switched to a smartphone. I also started texting, which I hadn't done in the past. Since then I feel like my phone is always glued to me. I'd like to keep it close just in case my family needs me, but I need to remember that it's a phone first of all.
I'd love to hear the things that you do to use your smartphone wisely?
I've been thinking about little things that might help me from checking my phone too many times throughout the day. I'd love to hear your ideas that you do.
Do you have your phone make notification sounds when you get a new message, email, text or comment? I'm experimenting with this. I feel like I need to be able to know if there are new texts because my friends and I communicate a lot through texting about picking up and dropping off our kids. But my phone should light up if there is something new.
This morning my phone made a notification noise and my almost two year old ran over to where it was and yelled "phone, phone!" Which makes me think that maybe the phone is being overused.
Do you check your email whenever you see there is a new message? Or do you only check it certain times throughout the day? Or do you only check your email on your computer, not on your phone?
Do you limit your Instagram checking and Facebook checking to only once a day? Or do you mindlessly click on the app to see what's new throughout the day?
I periodically remove the facebook app from my phone, so it's harder to me to check facebook. I was hoping that this would help. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn't. I can still check facebook through the internet browsers on my phone. :)
Do you check pinterest when you're bored? I've finally kicked my pinterest addiction by not even putting the app on my phone. I occasionally check it on the computer or on my tablet, except that my tablet officially just died, so that's not a worry anymore.
Do you use your phone to know what time it is? I did all the time until I finally bought a watch a few weeks ago. It's made a huge difference! It's so handly too...the time there right on my wrist. Watches are great inventions! Ha!
I'm teaching a lesson in Relief Society on Sunday to all the women at church and some teenage girls and the lesson happens to be talking about this very thing, plus other things. The lesson is on a General Conference talk given to the young men in our church last April, "The Choice Generation." I love the things that I've learned from studying this talk. It came at the perfect time.
A few things that I loved from his talk.
"Follow the adage “Be where you are when you are there.” When you are driving, drive. When you are in class, focus on the lesson. When you are with your friends, give them the gift of your attention.
Your brain cannot concentrate on two things at once. Multitasking amounts to quickly shifting your focus from one thing to another.
An old proverb says, “If you chase two rabbits, you won’t catch either one.”
I've been thinking about this...being where you are when you are there. How many times have I been listening to someone tell me something and then hear a ding announcing a new text and have checked it while "listening". Usually this makes me not remember what the person even said and makes me look totally rude. Sorry if I've done this to you. I'm going to try to do better. :)
Anyway...I'd love to hear things that you do to keep yourself from being glued to your phone all the time, while still enjoying the great convenience that it is. I'd love it if you shared. Then I can be unaddicted!
I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to my phone and before I got my phone I was addicted to my tablet and before that it was my computer.
I'm sure I'm not the only one that mindlessly checks for texts, emails, new pictures on instagram or new posts on facebook too many times throughout the day. It's been driving me crazy lately and I've been trying to think of ways to "unaddict" myself from my phone.
I'd love to hear the things that you do to use your smartphone wisely?
I've been thinking about little things that might help me from checking my phone too many times throughout the day. I'd love to hear your ideas that you do.
Do you have your phone make notification sounds when you get a new message, email, text or comment? I'm experimenting with this. I feel like I need to be able to know if there are new texts because my friends and I communicate a lot through texting about picking up and dropping off our kids. But my phone should light up if there is something new.
This morning my phone made a notification noise and my almost two year old ran over to where it was and yelled "phone, phone!" Which makes me think that maybe the phone is being overused.
Do you check your email whenever you see there is a new message? Or do you only check it certain times throughout the day? Or do you only check your email on your computer, not on your phone?
Do you limit your Instagram checking and Facebook checking to only once a day? Or do you mindlessly click on the app to see what's new throughout the day?
I periodically remove the facebook app from my phone, so it's harder to me to check facebook. I was hoping that this would help. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn't. I can still check facebook through the internet browsers on my phone. :)
Do you check pinterest when you're bored? I've finally kicked my pinterest addiction by not even putting the app on my phone. I occasionally check it on the computer or on my tablet, except that my tablet officially just died, so that's not a worry anymore.
Do you use your phone to know what time it is? I did all the time until I finally bought a watch a few weeks ago. It's made a huge difference! It's so handly too...the time there right on my wrist. Watches are great inventions! Ha!
I'm teaching a lesson in Relief Society on Sunday to all the women at church and some teenage girls and the lesson happens to be talking about this very thing, plus other things. The lesson is on a General Conference talk given to the young men in our church last April, "The Choice Generation." I love the things that I've learned from studying this talk. It came at the perfect time.
A few things that I loved from his talk.
"Follow the adage “Be where you are when you are there.” When you are driving, drive. When you are in class, focus on the lesson. When you are with your friends, give them the gift of your attention.
Your brain cannot concentrate on two things at once. Multitasking amounts to quickly shifting your focus from one thing to another.
An old proverb says, “If you chase two rabbits, you won’t catch either one.”
I've been thinking about this...being where you are when you are there. How many times have I been listening to someone tell me something and then hear a ding announcing a new text and have checked it while "listening". Usually this makes me not remember what the person even said and makes me look totally rude. Sorry if I've done this to you. I'm going to try to do better. :)
Anyway...I'd love to hear things that you do to keep yourself from being glued to your phone all the time, while still enjoying the great convenience that it is. I'd love it if you shared. Then I can be unaddicted!
