Phone usage. It’s a hot topic!
You’re probably aware of the articles about the correlation between smartphone use and worsening concentration and mental health.
You have probably been irritated when a friend or family member devotes more attention to their phone rather than to you …despite the fact that you’re physically in front of one another.
You have probably already considered whether or not you use your phone too much, and then decided to either continue as normal or to try to cut down.
This article is for people looking to cut down.
Unfortunately, my work necessitates that I keep my phone to-hand and at least on vibrate at all times. When security crises arise, I need to be available to immediately participate if the person responding wishes to form a crisis management team. This means being on-call 24/7.
When cycling or running, I protect my smartphone from sweat and rain by putting it in a Ziploc® bag. In recent weeks, I’ve developed a habit of leaving my phone in the bag when not running or cycling.
This creates a barrier to using it, whether it’s on my desk or in my pocket. When I instinctively reach for my phone, the bag prompts the question: are you sure you want to check your phone now?
Often, the answer is “no” and I’ll return to what I was doing.
So, if you’re looking to cut down on your phone usage, considering bagging it.
Hot tip: avoid bags that enable use of the touchscreen through the bag!