Like everything in life, technology has its pros and cons.
It’s great to be able to contact someone instantly, type and save a document, and share the things we care about on social media.
But it can also be draining and distracting to be so connected all the time.
A few years ago, I noticed I’d become so obsessed with my phone and all it’s notifications to the point that it was actually becoming a stressor.
I felt the need to get back to people ASAP and I found every time a notification came through, it took me away from the people I was with or the activity I was doing.
So I set out to cut down.
Here are five things I did and five ways it improved my life:
What I did:
I moved the phone away from the bed at night
One major stressor was checking my phone last thing before I went to bed and then again first thing in the morning.
On more than one occasion I found I had a hard time falling asleep because I read a stressful or anger-inducing text/email late at night. Or I’d check my phone first thing and find myself stressed and with a problem to solve before I’d even had my coffee.
Now I plug my phone in on the other side of the room. It’ll still ring for an emergency, but I’m far enough away that I can’t reach for it first and last thing every day.
I turned off all notifications except for phone, text, and VIP emails
Every time my phone buzzes I can’t help but look at it.
Part of is urgency. I don’t like to keep other people waiting, so if there’s a message, it always feels urgent to me to answer.
The other part is curiosity. I have a terrible time knowing there’s information on my phone and
This meant every time I got a notification, I would be taken out of what I was doing and taken away from whomever I was with to address my phone.
Since I didn’t have the impulse control to stop checking my phone, I cut down on what my phone notifies me for.
Now it only goes off for phone calls, text messages, and email addresses that I will need to get back to ASAP. Everything else (social media, general email, etc) gets addressed when I choose to open the app and address it.
I silenced my phone while working
Like I said, I have no impulse control, so if I hear my phone go off, I’m going to pick it up. And even though it went off less, text messages, phone calls, and VIP emails woulds still interrupt my work.
So I started silencing my phone completely while I’m working.
I still want to be reached in emergency situations, so I checked my phone’s do not disturb settings. My phone can be set to ring through if someone calls twice in a limited timeframe. I turned this setting on.
This way I can put my phone down and my friends and family know to call me twice in a row if they really need me.
I closed out of email and social media on the computer
I used to keep my social media and email windows open on my computer all day! This resulted in so much mindless scrolling and wasted time.
Now I log in and out every time I use one of those sites and apps. And I only log on when I’m in the mindset of responding to the messages waiting for me.
The extra step of logging in has proven to be enough of a deterrent to keep me from mindlessly scrolling without having to resort to a site blocker so I can access the site if I really need or want to. It’s also made me more purposeful when I do sit down to read and/or respond.
I made a game out of the phone’s battery
Speaking of mindlessly scrolling, let’s talk about mindless use of phones.
I can’t be the only one who would turn to their phone just to kill time. I was also known to be on my phone AND watching TV at the same time. And most of these were shows I really liked and wanted to pay attention to.
I just couldn’t help myself!
One way I stopped mindlessly using my phone was by playing a game with myself. I decided to see how long I can make my battery last on a single charge.
This meant if I was using my phone, I had to make sure it was a reason. If I used it too much, I’d have to charge up and I’d lose my all time high.
I just hit four days for the first time this week!
This has seriously helped me make sure that if I’m on my phone, it’s for a good reason.
How it Helped:
It made me more present
The less technology and notifications intrude in my activities, the more I enjoy the activities I’m doing! It lets me become more immersed, which always leads to a more fulfilling experience.
It made me more productive
My productivity has skyrocketed since I implemented these techniques.
My phone silenced means I have no reason to be interrupted when I’m working, and cutting out mindless scrolling means I don’t have the distraction of the internet when I’m trying to get work done.
I get done all of my work in a fraction of the time I used to and I’ve found I enjoy it so much more.
I’ve also found I have more mental energy because my brain isn’t constantly going back and forth between work and phone/email/social media.
It made me calmer
I honestly didn’t realize how the urgency of answering every text/email/social post had gotten to me until I saw how much more relaxed I was with less tech.
Being less attentive to my phone and email has made my life more calm than I anticipated when I first made this change.
It helped me give better answers
The fact that I now only answer messages when I decide to instead of as soon as they arrive has helped me give better responses.
I used to answer messages immediately on my phone, which usually meant I was in the middle of something, so they got answered as quickly as possible.
But now that I set aside time to open the appropriate site or app and address concerns, I’m more present and purposeful in the answers I give. This has lead to more clear communication on my part and less follow up messages from others.
It made me more aware of myself and what I think and feel
I’ve found that when I was taking in social media, email, and the internet in general on a constant loop, I was more aware of what other people were saying and thinking about a topic, and less aware of what I was saying and thinking about a topic.
Now that I’m online less, I’ve found that I have more mental space to focus on myself and what I think and feel about something before I let other people’s thoughts dominate my brain.
Overall, this has made me a happier, better, and more present person! If you decide to give this a try, you’ll have to let us know any positive impacts you have!
Sound off: Have you ever felt like technology has interfered with your happiness? Has time away ever made you feel better? Tell us about it below!