Challenge for Solopreneurs: Put Down the Phone
Just because you're a solopreneur, doesn't mean you should be on your phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At any given moment, we find ourselves mindlessly scrolling through social media and checking emails. It has become a habit that so ingrained into our lives.
Unplugging has many benefits. Do you realize how better you can be as a solopreneur and parent if you learn to put your phone down when you need to?
When you're not wasting time looking at random pictures and status updates, you'd be able to get started on your next project ASAP. Or when you're with your family on a vacation, putting your phone down lets you spend quality time with them.
Overall, there's less stress, more joy, and a greater sense of accomplishment.
The question is, how do you break your phone addiction? I'm sharing with you five simple tips in today's blog post.
5 Ways to Put Down Your Phone/Break Your Technology Addiction
1. Identify which apps are toxic.
The first step to breaking your phone addiction is to determine the apps that you're "addicted" to. It could be Facebook, Twitter, phone games, and your email. You can tell that an app is toxic if you regret using it and it makes you feel worse. More importantly, that toxic app has often prevented you from living in the moment. After identifying these apps, make sure to delete them.
2. Put an end to idle moments.
It's usually in your idle moments that you use your phone mindlessly. I would suggest that you keep yourself busy with things that benefit your business and life. If you're not working, take your dog out for a walk - or play with your kid. Why not take a nap? You can also meditate or read a positivity book!
3. Wear a watch daily.
A quick glance towards your phone to check the time can easily turn into minutes of checking Facebook. If you're guilty of this, the best thing you can do is to wear an analog watch instead. That way, you'll be able to tell the time anytime and not become unproductive.
4. Leave your phone in one location.
Do you check your phone at least 50 times a day? One of the best ways to get rid of this habit is to put your phone in a location that's far from you. Since you're probably working, you're less likely to check it when it rings (because you have to walk and you'll lose momentum).
5. Don't bring your phone into the room at night.
Looking at the phone before bedtime keeps your mind active. And when your mind is engaged, you'll find it hard to relax your way to a good night's sleep. The blue light that your screen emits will also suppress melatonin, a hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle. If you need an alarm, don't use your phone - use a wind up alarm clock instead.
Ready to increase your productivity and happiness? Start by putting the phone away more often. If you have more ideas to share on breaking phone addiction, feel free to share them!