Increasingly, many people are concerned about their digital wellbeing. Whether it’s for work, keeping up with friends and relatives or becoming addicted to any of the countless apps and games, we all spend too much time staring at that little screen.
How much screen time are people logging?
- The average adult has more screen time than sleep time.
- Typical adults spend one full day a week online.
- Social media users spend more than two hours a day chatting and connecting.
- One study found we swipe, click and tap 2,617 times every day.
Tips on Reducing Screen Time
Monitor Screen Time
Find out how much time you’re actually spending with your phone. Apps such as Apple’s Screentime will let you know where you stand right now. However, just use the app as a guide. Don’t let it become an obsession. After you’ve established a benchmark and set a goal for the future, only check once a week or so to find out how you’re doing.
Limit Phones at Mealtime
Many families have established this rule for themselves and their kids. Continue the rule to work lunches. Take a break from the office and the screen. Enjoy your surroundings. Have a conversation with a friend. Give your brain a rest and you’ll be rewarded by a clear head and a boost in productivity when you return to work.
Don’t Sleep With Your Phone
A phone can become a consuming and demanding partner. Many people check their phones last thing at night and first thing in the morning. Try establishing a phone-free 30 minutes before bed and after waking up. You may find this easier to accomplish if you leave your phone in another room when you head for bed.
Another trick you can try is using an actual alarm clock instead of your phone to get you going in the morning. If you swipe your phone to turn off the alarm, it’s too easy to keep swiping to check emails or Facebook.
Speaking of Email…
At the bottom of emails is an unsubscribe link. Clean out your inbox by unsubscribing to emails you don’t need.
You may also find it helpful to reduce screen time by setting aside a designated time to check emails instead of constantly interrupting whatever you’re doing to take a look. Most emails or texts can wait a bit.
Organize Your Screen
Over time, screens get cluttered with apps we don’t really use. Keep the ones your really need. Organize others into folders or discard them. If there’s an app you know is a big time-waster, but you’re not ready to get rid of it entirely, put it into a folder so it’s not staring at you when you look at your phone. Chances are, you’ll open it less often.
Talk Instead of Texting
Texting is convenient, but there are many instances when a call would be more appreciated. A verbal “Congrats!” can mean a lot more than a text.
Need help reducing your marketing workload (and screen time)? At BXP Creative, we’re ready to work with your people or independently. Take a look at our case studies to see how we’ve helped other brands.
