How to Have a Healthy Relationship with Your Electronic Devices
Whether you use your phone, tablet, laptop or other electronic device, you should know when it becomes too involved in your daily life. Smart phones have become a more popular device with its capabilities, but do you ever feel anxiety if you don’t have it right beside you, have had a difficult time completing your work or feel more irritable in general? If so, you may be addicted to your phone. Learn how to have a healthy relationship with the online world and reality.
- Go outside every day. Breathing in fresh air, feeling the vitamin D from the sunshine and seeing the world around you is important for your mental health to feel balanced.
- Limit your screen time. If you’re on your phone or other electronic devices too much, it may be difficult for you to focus on anything else, including important things like your family, friends and job. Try setting hours when you’re allowed to use your electronic devices, so you learn to distance yourself from it.
- Reduce notifications from apps on your phone. While some notifications like texts, phone calls and emails are important for you to stay in touch with your family, friends and employer, other notifications can be turned off. For example, social media notifications could be turned off or reduced to at least not appear on your home screen. You’re more likely to grab your phone if you hear or see notifications pop up.
- Find a new hobby. Part of why you may be on your phone a lot is because you don’t have an active hobby. Joining a running, book or gardening club; volunteering in your community; or finding a sport you enjoy playing can help you have fun without having to use your phone.
- Set up an appointment with a counselor. It’s common for people to use their phones for social media purposes, which can have a negative effect on your mental health. If you develop depression, anxiety or want to talk about your obsession with your phone, set up an appointment with a counselor to learn how to disengage from your devices.
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