How to Kick Bad
Cell Phone Habits
6 ways to achieve a balanced relationship with your smartphone.
“Phone, keys, wallet.” It’s our mental checklist every time we go out into the world. We rely on our smartphones for almost everything, but how healthy is our relationship with them? As more people put down their phones for temporary "digital detoxes," it is good to see if there's a better way to find balance with your smartphone when you pick it back up again.
Track your phone usage
As with any lifestyle change, taking a moment to reflect on how much time you’re actually spending on the habit you're reassessing is key. Apps like Thrive can help you understand how much time you spend on your phone and how you’re spending it, so you can figure out when and where to scale back. Remember, tangible goals are key for long-term changes, and you can't set goals without knowing where you are in the first place.
Ditch digital and go analog once in a while
A way to dial back your reliance on your cell phone is to switch out for other things that can do the same job in different ways. Vary things up with an alarm clock, cookbook, radio or magazine—anything to encourage offline self-sufficiency.
Practice safe selfies
While trying to get that perfect selfie, make sure you protect yourself from tech-induced injuries like selfie elbow. Be sure to rest your arm once in a while if you feel any discomfort, or try other ways to take selfies, like the S Pen.
Phone a friend, your best lifeline
While a seemingly ancient way of keeping in touch, a simple phone call is often fast and effective. Not only will you skip paragraphs of typing, you'll avoid inevitable follow-up clarification texts as well.
Perfectly out of reach
We’re all guilty of reaching for our phone without even thinking. Some are concerned that this urge to check our phones keeps us from having meaningful moments with the people around us. An easy solution might be to keep your smartphone out of arm’s reach, like across the office or in another room. It may sound simple, but there is truth in “out of sight, out of mind.”
Put the phone down once in a while
...but when you're ready to pick it back up again, stay balanced with some mindful mobile tools.
Galaxy S10e | S10 | S10+
Galaxy Note9
Thrive
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** All images from Instagram and/or third party sources have been approved for use by photographers.
*** All quotes have been approved for use by photographers.
**** Source: "These are the cellphones that emit the most and least radiation" https://www.newsweek.com/these-are-cell-phones-emit-most-and-least-radiation-1095530