In a world where so many of us are glued to our smartphones, Dulcie Cowling is a rare breed: she just ditched her phone.
At the end of last year, this 36-year-old woman decided to put her aside smart phone It would improve your mental health.
At Christmas, he told his family and friends that he would exchange it for an old Nokia phone that could only make and receive calls and texts.
She remembers that one of the defining moments that prompted her to make such a decision was A day in the garden with his two children, 6 s 3 years.
“I was in the park, with the kids, staring at my phone,” she says. “When I looked up, all the parents—even 20 of them—were looking at their phones, constantly running their fingers across the screen.”
I thought: “When did this happen to us?” we real life loss. I don’t think on your deathbed you will regret not spending more time on Twitter or reading articles online.”
Adds Colling, Creative Director of Hell Yeah! Advertising Agency. based in London The idea of giving up your smartphone Developed as confinement progressed due to the covid pandemic.
“I thought of how many time for I spent my life looking at the phone And what can I do. To be in constant contact with many services we Creates a lot of distractions And the brain has to process a lot.”
He plans to use the time gained by leaving his smartphone Read and sleep more.
About nine out of 10 people in the UK own a smart phone, a number that has been widely repeated throughout the developed world. And we’re stuck with them: a recent study found it The average person spends 4And8 hours a day on your phone.
However, for a small but growing number of people, it was already more than enough.
Alex Dunedin threw his smartphone in the trash two years ago.
“Culturally, we have become addicted to these tools,” says this educational researcher and technology expert. “Is also Impaired cognition and impaired productivity“.
Dunedin, who lives and works in Scotland, says another reason behind his decision is environmental concerns.
“We waste huge amounts of energy and produce huge amounts of carbon dioxide emissions,” he says.
He’s happier and more productive since he stopped using it smart phone, he is referring to. He didn’t replace it with an old cell phone and didn’t even have a land line. He can only be contacted through emails that arrive on the computer at home.
“My life has improved,” he says. “It freed my thoughts from constant cognitive contact with a machine I need to fuel energy and money. I think the danger of technologies is that they drain our lives.”
Lynne Foyes, a 53-year-old teacher and writer from Birmingham, central England, has moved in the opposite direction: She started using the smartphone again last August, after a six-year hiatus.
She says she was forced to buy One reluctantly due to having to deal with QR codes in restaurants and so-called passports cOvid (digital)In addition to facilitating contact with one of his daughters residing in Paris.
But Plan to quit again, if you can. “After the pandemic, when Ella [su hija mayor] You do not live abroad, you can try to leave it again. Sounds like an addiction, right?
When Voyce gave up his smartphone for the first time, in 2016, it was to encourage their daughters To reduce the time they spend absorbing them smart phones.
“They were glued to their cell phones. I thought the only way to stop this was to get rid of my phone. It made a difference.
“For example, we were walking into a restaurant and they would no longer see me pick up the phone.”
Not having a smartphone “You relieved a lot of pressure.“I no longer feel compelled to respond immediately or to be available when I am away.”
However, while some are concerned about the amount of time they spend using their phones, It is a gift from heaven to millions of people.
“more than ever, Access to health care, education, social services, and often our friends and family digitally. “The smartphone is an essential lifesaver for people,” says a spokesperson for Vodafone’s UK mobile network.
“We’ve also created resources to help people get the most out of their technology, as well as stay safe when they’re online. This is very important.”
Hilda Burke, psychologist and author phone addiction book (“Phone Addiction Guide”), says that There is a strong relationship between heavy device use and relationship problems and sleep qualityOur ability to detach and relax, as well as our levels of focus.
“Many people are receiving steady flows of incoming requests across their devices, and many of them have a False sense of urgency‘, he explains.
“they feel Unable to set limits, which made them feel compelled to check emails and messages late at night and first thing in the morning.”
If getting rid of your smartphone seems like too much, but you’re worried about spending too much time using it, there is Other steps you can take to reduce your usage.
Although it may seem contradictory at first, there are more and more applications to reduce the meaningless browsing for them.
For example, Freedom Temporarily block apps and websites So you can focus more. And lets you off the network Lock the phone for a certain period.
Burke says it would be helpful for more people to monitor the amount of time they spend using their smartphones. “start at Realize how much time you are wastingn exactly every day On your phone it can be a powerful wake-up call and a catalyst for change.”
He also recommends starting with turning off your phone or leaving it at home for a short time, and gradually extending the time.
Finally, it is recommended to set the cell phone wallpaper uA picture or word that represents what you prefer to do If you have more time
“Considering that most of us check our phones 55 times a day and some even 100 times, this is a great visual reminder of a much more worthwhile way to spend the time,” he says.
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