Here are 5 simple and practical ways to reduce your screentime and make your phone work for you and not against you.
1)Switching my phone screen to greyscale.
Turning my phone to greyscale has significantly reduced my screen time. Without all of the vibrant colors, blaring red notifications and eye catching posts and pictures, I’m far less likely to get caught up in my newsfeed or check each notification. I’ve stopped clicking on apps “just because” or picking up my phone, period. You can even toggle greyscale on and off when you want to take a photo or when you need to see color temporarily. Another bonus! The world around you looks a lot more vibrant and beautiful.
2) Utilize the “Focus Mode.”
My phone is set on a personalized “Focus Mode.” I only allow notifications and messages from designated people and specific applications so the rest, can wait. My time isn’t interrupted by a bombardment of notifications and I can relax knowing I’m not missing anything important or time sensitive.
3) Delete all social media platforms.
Deleting all social media platforms was a huge weight off of my shoulders. Once I beat the urge to check my feeds, share with the world or feel as though I’m missing out, it was surprisingly freeing and refreshing. By only utilizing my laptop or cellphone web browser, it’s annoyingly difficult to navigate thus reducing my urge to scroll mindlessly.
4) Delete all applications that didn’t benefit me or add value/productivity to my life.
I made a little list of my personal necessities. Phone, text, camera, alarm, calendar, google maps and Bible. Apps that specifically benefit me. Those that help me to be more productive without interfering with my day to day life. A few apps that didn’t make the cut included Pinterest, Amazon and Google search… anything that took up valuable time and did not add value. Pinterest made me aspire to have an Instagram worthy home, to adopt unrealistic daily routines, achieve an unrealistic postpartum figure and overwhelmed me with undeniable envy. So, I got rid of it to work on contentment. Amazon peeked my interest in items I wouldn’t otherwise purchase and made spending dangerously easy. As far as google, the moment I thought of something, I gravitated to the google search bar, typed in my question, idea, recipe search etc. without realizing how detrimental immediate gratification was becoming. The anxiety that the idea of waiting for anything was provoking within me made me take a step back and remember the days that we could survive without immediate answers. The days when we used critical thinking, spell check wasn’t our second brain and the days we picked up a book to find answers.
4) Set App Timers.
With the above said, I kept apps like YouTube, but set a timer on the app. I really enjoy the work and videos some YouTubers develop with excellent informative and beneficial advice. It is so easy to get caught up in one video after another only to discover an hour has passed when all you wanted to view was a 2 minute clip. I allow a 30 minute time limit on YouTube. When my screen notifies me I’ve hit my limit for the day, I turn it off and set it aside. Also, I might be behind on the times, but I just learned that by turning off the “YouTube history” option and "ad marketing," YouTube will no longer feed your personal video interests to you! In return, you’re less likely to get caught up in clips beyond your original YouTube search.
5) My last tip, instead of your phone, try paper.
I love using paper and I especially love my bullet journal. You can personalize it. It can hold any and all information you want from your calendar, your journal, to your to do list. I love to write things down and have a sense of accomplishment by crossing them off. I also really enjoy tangible paper verse digital. I write everything and all things down and very intentionally in one place. Another benefit- When you write things down you’re less likely to forget.
The concept of digital minimalism isn’t for everyone, but it has forever changed my perspective on my cellphone usage and how I use my time. Of course I’m human and these habits aren’t perfect. I stumble and I return to bad habits, over use my phone and catch myself checking my feeds one too many times and that’s O.K. Just find what’s important to you and work toward it. Me? I value my time and those I spend it with and I’m sure you do too. Consider implementing some of these things and maybe it’ll change you too.
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