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In a research conducted by the University of Derby on the effects of smartphone addiction, it was concluded that the more a person uses his or her phone, the more likely they are to become addicted. The participants in the study spent around 3.6 hours a day on their phone, and 13% of them claimed to be addicted to their devices. So, does spending a lot of time using a smartphone make you unproductive?
Effects of Too Much Smartphone or Social Media Usage
Since social media is easily accessible through smartphones, it doesn’t come as a surprise that more and more people are spending many hours on their phones. They don’t realize, however, that excessive smartphone or social media usage is costing them not only their time. According to several studies, using your smartphhone too much can steal your personal happiness, halt children’s development, and also decrease academic potential among students.
There were other research studies that proved that using Facebook for long periods of time can lead to increased feelings of loneliness. What’s more, using your smartphone excessively can result to you getting many tasks undone.
Here are some suggestions on how you can spend less time on your phone:
1. Turn off any notifications
Do you sometimes intend to check a notification and end up browsing the internet for almost half an hour? If that’s the case, you are not alone. This happens to so many people, and it just proves that it is too easy to get stuck into the world of social media.
What you can do is to turn off your unnecessary notifications. You may also mute the audio alerts on your phone so that you don’t get too many reasons to check your phone.
2. Know how much you are using your phone
It may be difficult for you to willingly reduce your cell phone time simply because you’re not aware of how much time you are spending on it every single day. There are several apps you can use to keep track of your phone usage. These apps will let you know how much of your time is wasted every time you hold your smartphone. Plus, these apps can also alert you if you’re already using your phone too much.
3. Have the discipline to be phone-free periods each day
There is no need for a phone at the bathroom, the dining table or while you’re watching TV, so you don’t actually have to have your phone in your hands. If you really want to boost your productivity by spending less time on your smartphone, you should determine only when you can use your phone. When you do this, there is a good chance that you will be spending more time with your family and for yourself.
4. Find other interesting thing to do during your spare time
Smartphones come with so many apps and games that can keep you entertained for as many hours as you want. Instead of playing those games, why not do something else that requires physical or mental activity? You may go to the gym if you have time, or you can read books as well. The thing is, these things will keep you busy and will also be beneficial to your overall wellbeing.
When it comes to being productive, it actually is a choice that you make for yourself. You can’t blame technology for your inability to complete your tasks, because it is you who decide to waste time using your gadgets. Besides, if you are aspiring for a higher position in the near future, you might as well hone your leadership skills by taking control of your bad habits.