Too much screen-time?

How amazing is 2020? I mean, can you imagine if the lockdown had happened in 2003 and all you had was a dial-up 56k modem and an old Nokia 6310? Smartphones have been a godsend for us all. They have allowed us to order groceries, binge-watch Netflix series, pay bills, reach out to the community, keep fit, and work from home. As awful as the pandemic has been, technology has allowed us to live relatively well under the circumstances.

As the lockdown is winding down I wonder how many people are feeling like they've become TOO dependent on technology. It's not just about the practical uses, for many, I think being connected to the world via a smartphone has been a huge comfort while we've been socially distancing. Have you been using social media more? Features like endless scrolling and notifications on Facebook, etc are designed to be addictive and they exploit basic human desires to be liked and to be a part of something.

Sometimes it takes a major shake-up to spot when something becomes a problem. Going back a few years, a friend of mine lost her dad to cancer and it forced her to look at what was important in her life. Up to that point, she was constantly on her smartphone. She said it felt like there was an itch in her brain if she couldn't get to her phone. She admitted that she regularly wasted her days-off aimlessly scrolling through Facebook and Instagram, chatting idly on Messenger and WhatsApp... and before she knew it the day was gone. She'd felt it creeping up, but it was only when her dad passed away that it shocked her into taking action. She realised then how emotionally disconnected she had become from her husband and children. While she was physically in the room with them, she was miles away emotionally. Her husband complained that she was constantly checking her phone when they went out for a meal.

2 years on, she still feels that pull of social media, but she is strict with herself about limiting time on her device. Does this sound like you? What are some simple ways to manage screen-time?

Ask your phone provider to reduce your data limit to reduce temptation.
Suspend social media accounts, or delete the apps from your phone.
Turn off notifications.
Put your phone on silent at meal times or for an hour before bed.
Leave your phone in one spot in the house rather than carrying it around.
Use the blue-light reduction setting if your phone has one.

Technology is part of our lives, but it's important to use it sensibly and to take time away from the screen. As well as affecting your relationships, too much screen-time can cause insomnia, difficulty concentrating, headaches and eye-strain. Remember – you control your smartphone, don't let it control you.