Reducing screen time thread, join me!

[NabooThatsWho]

I have been using my phone farrrrr too much recently, scrolling through the same few apps for hours every day.

I feel like it’s affecting my energy levels and concentration (and probably my sleep). There’s so many other more productive things I could be doing with my time. So I’m going to try and reduce it to 2.5 hours a day.

I’m job hunting at the minute, and also going through an unfair dismissal/tribunal process, so I can’t cut it out completely.

Does anyone want to join me?

Gawd me. Ive been spending so much time on it. I had done well reducing my time faffing on phone but then i was in hospital for a week. Still off work now and spending a ridiculous time on my phone.

I have no idea how to kick the habit properly. Might start leaving it in a different room. I dunno.

Whats your strategy?

Thanks for joining!

I’m going to leave it in another room I think, it’s just too tempting when I can see it (sound like a proper addict )

I’m the morning I’m not going to aimlessly scroll for an hour before DD2 wakes. I’ll do some meditation instead and try to start the day off on the right foot.

I cut way down about a month ago and felt so much calmer and proactive. It’s just been so easy to slip back into the habit of endless scrolling and switching between apps.

Are you setting a time limit or just trying to reduce time generally?

I’m going to join.

I miss reading books, properly watching a film.
The internet’s great but also a curse at the same time. It’s the same old shite everyday.

Oooh I need to do this

I’m in. Though how can we support each other if avoiding using our phones

I wondered about setting times in the day. Work days are fine but then in the evening I just scroll mindlessly.

My phone has a screen time calculator. 😵

I really need to do this. I am fine during the day but I constantly scroll through shite in the evening.

I rarely remember anything interesting i have looked at. And certainly not enough to warrant the piddling about.

It must piss of my dh as well.

Just going to try reduce in general. Im back to work next week. So that will help during the day.

And ive taken up knitting, so hopefully will help in the evening. Plan on getting some library books out. Might see if theres a self help one on breaking the phone habit

Can I join?
My husband is constantly moaning about how long I'm on my phone for. Must be on it for about 4 hours a day or longer.
I treated myself to a load of new books at Christmas and haven't even started on them cos I can't get off the phone.

lookslike

I have been avoiding looking at the screen time calculator, feel a bit sick thinking about how much I’ve been scrolling. But starting tomorrow I’ll definitely be using it.

Feel a bit more motivated now! I’ve done it before, it’s just sticking to it. DD2 has been a bit poorly this week so we have been stuck in the house. Nothing wrong with using the phone but I’ve wasted so much time I could have been doing other things like sorting out wardrobes, exercising, baking etc.

Went to library today and got myself a pile of books. One of which is called how to break up with your phone.

Link to amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073RM5H36/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1&tag=mumsnetforum-21

Will see how i get on with it 🤷‍♀️

I will join!

I was thinking about this the other day, i spend far too much time on my phone and not doing anything productive, just keep switcing between the same 3/4 apps.

Going to start leaving my phone out of my reach and attempt to do stuff i miss, like reading and watching films ( when i’m not busy with DD )

Which screen time calculator apps are you using?

God yes. Me too.

I have set an hour limit on social
Media apps but I'm just overriding it each time. Annoyingly, it counts time when I'm using Fitbit and Spotify, so I need to go through and alter some of my settings as it keeps switching my music off while I'm running.

I reckon an hour on social media a day should be sufficient, for me. I feel awful at the moment, I'm eating absolute crap, sleeping terribly, feel stressed out and quite frankly, really fucking grumpy. I think they are all linked! So from tomorrow, less phone time, less rubbish food and less general grouchiness. I am going to have to switch my phone off during the day I think, or leave it upstairs, to break the habit.

Daily check in. Well I’ve managed just over 2 hours today, which is a big improvement. I just left my phone in another room, it seemed to do the trick.

It’s crazy how many times I automatically reached for it without thinking. I suppose it’s like any addiction, it will take time to change the pattern of behaviour.

I was very mindful of what i used my screen time for. Much less time doing zombie scrolling and more time looking at useful things.

I definitely felt more present and calmer. I think excessive phone use makes me quite moody.

Oh and for the pp who asked about screen time apps, I have an iPhone and if you go to settings there is a button that says ‘Screen Time’ which shows your useage daily and weekly. It’s great because it also breaks down exactly what you spent your time looking at.
I’m not sure if other phones have that function?

God, me too... I used to read so much, and watch TV.

I'm in! I think the PP is right - when I look more at my phone everything else goes to pot physically and around the house and I get very snappy. It's such a hard habit to break because there are so many useful tasks I do need the phone for. If it was a gameboy I could just put it away but I use mine for work emails, banking, Tesco shop (oh and texting and phoning!) as well as the mindless stuff so I can't go cold turkey which is what usually works for me with bad habits. The number of times I pick up my phone to reply to a text but before I even start that I spend 30mins mindlessly looking at FB and MN. It's without even meaning to and the hours just slip past. Such a waste of time.

Has anyone else noticed that Screen-Time isn't always accurate?
The other day I had read an Apple book for about an hour and 15 minutes and under settings it just said I read for half an hour.

I have an android, im using an app called "app usage" - novel name

Shows ive spent over 5 hours on my phone. Faffing
I did do an online food shop. at least thats productive.
I have also finished knitting a scarf and im bow going to read for a bit.

But 5hrs!!!!! I need to get a grip on this. I am missing out on life cos im too busy staring at my phone

Gah, I thought I was doing pretty well but I'm actually up this week from last week. Next week I'm going to leave my phone upstairs during the day I think; I can't switch it off but it definitely helps me to have it out of sight.

I'm so glad I found this!!
I've decided today that me and the kids need a good screen cleanse! It's just become way to common in all this bad weather.
I don't know what we're going to do just yet but we started this evening and it went OK.

waterbird I think mine is fairly accurate? Is it the iPhone one you have?

Glad others are joining the thread!

On bad days I’ve faffed for more than 5 hours It’s terrible. And I couldn’t tell you what I looked at for those 5 hours.

Keeping the phone in a different room is working for me so far. I’ve found when I feel tired or stressed I’m more likely to want to start scrolling, it feels like a comfort blanket.

I have hidden the iPad and am trying to sit with DD2 and do more productive activities, giving her my full attention.

I’m starting to do a few exercise workouts with my new-found free time, as well as plenty of reading.

It feels good

I was doing so well. Got my phone useage down to an hour a day. I deleted Facebook and Instagram and snapchat and twitter from my phone. Not the accounts completely. But just from my phone.

I’m now signed off sick from work so have been spending far too much time on mumsnet. Ffs.

I deleted Facebook and everything else of that type, now I’m on here too much.

Yes, iPhone 8.