The COVID-19 pandemic is making us more “addicted” to phones, and here are 10 ways to get rid of that.

There is an undeniable fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified an interesting aspect in the digital age. When schools, offices and entertainment areas close, the time at home we spend glued to screens becomes ever greater.

Televisions, laptops, tablets, and especially mobile phones are taking our time. Every day is passing by your fingertips, skimming over Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and the series.

Have you ever found yourself using too much screen time, and want to rebalance your life? If so, you are not alone. A lot of people are feeling their lives are packed into screens. This article will give some suggestions for you to get out of them.

1. Like food, using your phone is sometimes good, when it’s bad

The first thing you need to do to manage your screen time is to realize that they are just like food, having “healthy” and healthy cell phone activities , while having abusive activities. Use and adversely affect health.

A piece of sponge cake in the early afternoon may not be too fat, even helping your mood in the half of your working day better. But chocolate before bedtime is clearly not a healthy choice.

Depending on what content you’re watching on the screen, the context and the time you spend with them, categorize what is a good activity and what is an abusive activity. For example, if your job requires a computer, it will count as a daily meal. Use your computer “at the right meal” and within a reasonable amount of time.

Activities that use screens to entertain are often similar to snacks. But there are also healthier snacks than other snacks. Reading an e-book while relaxing in the bathtub is definitely different from going to bed all day to surf Facebook or watch movies.

In fact, none of these activities are absolutely right or absolute wrong, but the relative classification will also help you arrange your screen time. Manage it by item instead of thinking of the time spent using electronics as a big block that you need to eliminate from life.

2. Determine which activities are mandatory for your phone, for how long

In today’s digital age, most of us need to interact with electronic devices to a certain degree. Children need learning online, seniors need to see news and of course, young people need work and play.

The problem is that you need to set a certain amount of time when using your computer or phone, if you do not want to be abused.

For example, when your work is connected to a computer, the advice is to focus on finishing the task to get 5 minutes of breaks every hour. Stand up for a bit of exercise instead of glued to the screen of your phone or laptop during these breaks.

3. Manage your free time with your phone

Free time is a time when you are likely to fall into the most abusive entertainment tools, such as playing games, chatting, watching movies or surfing social networks. Of course, we can’t give up all these activities, but again, let’s set a limit for them.

Ask yourself, how long a game day is enough, how long do you need to go to Facebook to update information and how much time you have available for other outside activities, such as meeting meet friends in real life, go for a walk, exercise …

Let’s devise yourself a strategy to use your free time reasonably. Or you can be creative, instead of chatting on Messenger, why not make a voice call and then, you can put the phone down and cook for example.

4. Pay attention to your mood when using the phone

Many people do not pay attention to their mood when using electronic devices and often get caught up in the swirl of emotions that make them use the screen continuously.

For example, have you ever browsed Facebook to the point of being boring and still trying to glance over to see below the News Feed? Or after losing a game that makes you feel like you need to play another game to get the feel of removing gauze or revenge? Or a movie so attractive that you can’t stop and watch till the end of the night?

One quick tip to determine when you should put your phone down or away from your computer is to ask yourself about your mood then. If you are feeling stressed, tired, upset or any negative emotions while using the monitor, stop when possible.

On the contrary, if the activity on the screen is making you more productive, calmed, calm or happier, continue.

5. Identify signs of stress

One of the most special moods you need to keep in mind when using electronics is stress. Stress can make you eat more, and it can also make you use your screen more.

That’s because both of these behaviors stem from one location, the frontal cortex. When stressed, this part of the brain that is responsible for making decisions for you will not function effectively. Therefore, resisting the temptations will become much more difficult.

Instead of having to finish an unfinished job, do you allow yourself to plow a movie? Or when you’re heartbroken, you can immerse yourself in the game instead of actually overcoming it.

Of course, there are activities that can ease your stress, but you need to realize when stress is causing you to become numb in front of a screen. To do this …

6. Make a list of other activities that make you feel better

Screens are not the only and the healthiest tool to help you overcome stress. You always have screens around you, and your brain always wants the quickest way to shock your mind so it can get you to take your phone out of your pocket.

To change the way you think, try making a list of activities you can do to deal with stress, of course, not related to screens.

For example, walking 5 minutes in the middle of working hours can relieve stress instead of 5 minutes switching to Facebook surfing tab, reading can help you have a more happy FA morning on Instagram to see pictures of couples love each other …

7. Try not to start and end your day with the phone

What do you usually do when you wake up? Isn’t turning off the alarm on the phone and checking email, surfing the news while still squinting? That way, many people spend half an hour without getting out of bed. While, obviously they can spend that time exercising.

Conversely, texting with friends until late at night is not a good idea. You can get caught up in endless stories, and don’t watch movies before bed. Film producers have always known how to keep your eyes on the screen until the movie is over. A TV series can then be a disaster for your night’s sleep.

8. Set a boundary

Establish a physical boundary between you and the monitors, so that when interacting with them, you will realize that it is the result of a conscious choice instead of unconscious. For example, charge your phone outside your bedroom, control the TV away from your bed, and buy an alarm clock instead of your phone.

In addition, you can also set boundaries on your computer, your phone, for example, do not turn on the Facebook tab while working, turn off notifications on your phone so that no notification can tempt you. friend…

9. Be physically active

Most of the activities associated with the monitor will cause you to neglect your body. But you need to know that a good physical health also makes you have better mental health.

Instead of sitting on your back in front of the computer or lounging on the bed stroking the phone, you can turn on Youtube and practice yoga or participate in an online aerobic dance class … There are lots of physical activity that can help you improve your fitness his substance.

10. Isolate from technology

Screens can sometimes exhaust you, no matter how hard you try. Therefore, it will not be too much if you leave your phone on the table and go somewhere 30 minutes, 1 hour. Some people also practice a Sabbath day with technology, which means they will arrange for a day, even a week, without the use of electronic devices.

If you can’t do that, don’t be afraid to create temporary methods of isolating screens. For example, you can delete the Facebook app or lock your account for 1 week.

And it’s not a futile frivolous exercise, isolating the screens for a period of time can allow us to think deeply about how to use them better in the future. In addition, we will also have time to practice new habits, more balanced for our lives.

Refer to Nytimes