I switched my phone off - realised it makes me happier

[Bedsidedrawer]

So sick of my phone and social media etc
So I've been switching it off at 8pm every night and leaving it off until 4pm the following day.
I feel calmer and more focused. I read more, I sleep better.
But interestingly the minute I turn it on at 4pm and scroll through social media, inadequacy and doubt start flooding in. I can have had a lovely day with the kids, perhaps simple, just hanging out at home with some baking, library etc. But then there is always someone doing something amazing with their kids.
This isn't a preachy post at all. I'm a phone addict as much as the next person. I know I could come off social media.
However when my phone is off, I do miss calls. And I would definitely miss out on some social, interactive side of clubs I'm in.
I'm just interested. What do our phones do to us - for good or bad?

Well for me the point of a mobile phone is that you can be contacted when you are not at home, so switching it off wouldn't work.

I don't have a problem with any of the added features a smart phone offers though.

That's great and wish I didn't. But sure I'm not the only one who feels this way!

Just come off social media .. I only use insta to follow bloggers for fashion ideas .. I'm much happier without fb . You can just delete your account and keep messenger .

Delete or not look at social media? Tbh it all is going to look a bit showy but it doesn't really tell the full story. People only take pictures and write about what they want. It's a highly edited view of their lives.

I only have a dumb phone that is just for people to contact me or me them whilst I'm out. Other than that I use an iPad for social media. I'm not on Facebook or instagram, though. Too much like hard work! We share family photos on an iCloud account or on apple messages. It's enough for me. I love looking at celebrity's and YouTuber's instagrams, though (nosy). I sometimes nose through Facebook with DH as he has a barely used account.

I tried deleting my account but it wouldn’t let me use messenger. How did you manage it?

I stopped using social media over lent and realised I didn’t miss it and actually was happier

Leaving my phone downstairs over night is a good practise to get into and I keep all notifications off other than phone calls so I don’t get distracted by things popping up

I just need to delete Mumsnet app next but I did that and then ended up using the web page as I couldn’t help myself.
Must try harder

I slowly but purposefully stopped engaging on things like whatsapp, as that used to drain a lot of my time. People got used to it and if somethings urgent, they call. I only use it very occasionally now. I also don't have any additional apps on there. I don't use much social media, I find it unnecessary. My phone really is just a phone so it often runs out of battery without me even noticing for a few days! I have an ipad but I only use it at certain times, not throughout the day. I work from home so I pop on MN at quiet times on my work laptop, or like now when I've finished work for the day. But I shall go downstairs soon and cook. I am much happier not being "plugged in" to everyone all of the time.

@bebeboeuf I deactivated it indefinitely.. then you can use messenger .. it looks to everyone else like you aren't there and you have to log in to see anything .. I use messenger a lot so wanted to keep it .

I was voluntarily without my phone for 10 days, friends and family were given a number of an emergency satellite number in caee they needed me. Best thing I ever did was leave the phone behind.