1 Monitor Your Screen Time

Monitoring screen time is the easiest way to get into the habit of using your devices relatively less frequently. Getting notified that you have exceeded your normal screen usage time limit may motivate some to put that phone down. There are various apps available for free to help you with this. Pick one that tracks your progress on a daily basis. If it is difficult for you to keep your phone away, we suggest taking up certain chores at home – fill that bottle of water or dust your room. Think of limiting your screen time the way you think about losing weight. Setting a goal and monitoring progress helps a lot.

After you do this for the first few days of the week, your brain will be habituated to the routine, and that does not involve using your phone. Make a to-do list on your diary, and cross off things every hour. This will compel you to take small breaks from your phone and computer. Your eyes and body will thank you!

2 Ban Phones At Certain Times

Quite often you use your phone to watch videos on YouTube while having lunch or dinner, or just before bedtime. In case you didn’t know, doing either or both of these is bad for your eyes.

Make it a habit to keep your phone away when you’re having meals and just 30 minutes before bedtime. This helps in improving the quality of your sleep. Now, who doesn’t like a ‘rested-to-the-bone’ feel when they get up in the morning? We all do!

Enforcing limited screen time in your lifestyle takes discipline- establish strict device “usage time” rules for yourself and stick to it.

3 Substitute The Phone With A Book!

People today spend more time than ever in front of their screens. While waiting for someone at a cafe or standing in line to cash out at an ATM. They’ve got their phone in hand checking for the latest Instagram and Facebook updates. We may not realize this now, but constantly browsing through the phone will definitely affect our vision in the long run.

We understand if you’re a socially awkward person, but there are baby steps that can be undertaken to avoid using phones in such situations. If you find it hard to strike a conversation with people, carry a book to read or listen to some tunes on shuffle. Observe people around you and learn, trust us, it gets a lot more interesting when you are alone and bored. The more activities you decide not to perform via a device, the easier it’ll be to limit your screen time.

4 Indulge In Screen-Free Hobbies

Clear out dust off that decade-old recipe book your mom stacked in the kitchen cabinet and start cooking a meal or two. We know how boring it can get to stay at home all day long (especially right now during COVID-19). The easiest option to beat the boredom is to use your phone and play a game or two, but did you know it is a lot more fun to take out those measuring cups, spoons, and a couple of ingredients to play around with and knowing the end result could be a delicious dish? Try it!

Substituting an unhealthy distraction with a healthy one is a simple but effective way to avoid using your devices as boredom cures.

5 Switch Off Notifications

We get it, it is hard to keep your phone aside when it is ringing incessantly at all times. Turn off the notifications on your phone for the apps that take up most of your time or just keep your phone on “Do Not Disturb” mode at regular intervals. Additionally, partnering up is yet another easy way to stay motivated and use less of your phone. All you gotta do is, convince a partner, relative, or friend who would like to join you in your effort to reduce screen time. Committing to this goal with another person ensures you’ll have someone by your side to help you stay focused.