Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Will anyone join my resolution to break iPhone addiction?

38 replies

FairlyIncognito · 31/12/2022 23:23

I want to stop looking at my phone in the night as I wake and look at it several times which is dreadful for my sleep .

Am I alone?!

I fail to turn my phone off or keep it in another room as don’t have the will power and hoping to find someone else battling too much phone use too and see if we can beat it.
I might replace it with reading a book at night but it’s hard as baby is in my room!

OP posts:
Starcircle · 31/12/2022 23:31

Oh hello I think you are me 😆 Yes I’d really like to break this addiction! I have taken some positive steps recently - I turn my phone off on Saturdays until the evening and I really like that. I’ve been reading a lot more as a result, which I also like! I have my 2 month old in my room at night so I do use it to keep myself awake when I’m feeding him but once he’s sleeping better I hope to stop that too. My next idea is to have two evenings a week where I either turn my phone off or put it in a drawer.

Im embarrassed to admit that even when my phone is switched off I reach for it out of pure habit!

Isitthathardtobekind · 31/12/2022 23:36

I don’t look at it during the night, but I would definitely like to use it a lot less during the evenings!

Tangled123 · 31/12/2022 23:39

The morning is the worst time for me. I waste so much time looking at my phone in bed before getting up. Should really get an alarm clock!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 31/12/2022 23:42

Are you on your laptop as you're posting this - or are you asking for help in breaking a phone addiction whilst still on it?

Gwdihooooo · 31/12/2022 23:43

NeverDropYourMooncup · 31/12/2022 23:42

Are you on your laptop as you're posting this - or are you asking for help in breaking a phone addiction whilst still on it?

It’s not realistic to never use your phone. OP is wanting to cut down, particularly at night

uhtredbebbanburg · 31/12/2022 23:51

I keep my phone downstairs in the kitchen during the night. I have an echo dot for an alarm and a kindle paperlight for before bed reading and if I wake up in the middle of the night. I got it originally when the DCs were babies and in my room but kept it up so I don’t wake DH up. I’ve broken the night time addiction. Day time is a problem! Good luck!

Mince314s · 31/12/2022 23:57

Mine has a night mode. It's so much less attractive in black and white.

NewMoonPhase · 01/01/2023 00:23

Yes! I'm in OP 👍

NewMoonPhase · 01/01/2023 00:24

I like listening to podcasts at night though. Going to have to get an echo dot.

DuchessOfDisco · 01/01/2023 00:36

The clock struck midnight and I deleted Facebook and Instagram off my phone in the hopes that without them, mindless scrolling will become less attractive. I still have Facebook, just need to log on to my laptop to go on it.
really need to cut down phone time

Fluteytooting · 01/01/2023 00:44

I deleted Facebook and Instagram off my phone just the other day after trying for years to cut down. It’s worked instantly and I’m really pleased! I can look at them on my iPad or laptop. I have never had my phone in my bedroom though, apart from when my children were babies. Good luck, you can do this!

rockingbird · 01/01/2023 00:51

I was saying the other day I need to remove myself from my phone.. I'm putting an app limit on from now and I'm going to charge my phone at night downstairs. I used to love reading in bed but that was years ago.. 🫣

IDontCareMatthew · 01/01/2023 00:56

I've just started- new job where we aren't allowed our phones on the premises at all.

At first ii was unsure but have grown to like it. We engage more
And at night when I'm home I often forget to pick it up

Pulchra76 · 01/01/2023 00:56

I’m lucky as I’ve never taken my phone or iPad to bed, always left in lounge but this year I’m determined not to use either of them during the week at night as I waste every evening on one of them. It’s going to be a hard habit to break, but I want to get back into other hobbies and not be stuck behind a screen 😖

Celeryfavour · 01/01/2023 00:57

I'm not sure how to do it as I'm a terrible sleeper and listen to podcasts all night with my phone under my pillow. I do think life would be better without my phone though.

RoseAndGeranium · 01/01/2023 00:57

Yes. I need help!

MariahsBaubles · 01/01/2023 00:57

I look if I wake in the night. Mostly at mumsnet!

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 01/01/2023 01:00

Yes! I'm in. I'm sick of my phone lol

Original poster
FairlyIncognito · 01/01/2023 11:23

I am so boosted by all these replies and encourage you to make the change too! I once heard if you keep repeating the same behaviour (as in not giving into it ) about 20 times it starts to disappear .

i did start my night without my phone at midnight and didn’t look at it until 9:30am- felt so much better .

im going to try much less phone use in general too but going to find this thread useful as it might help i hope.

the kindle idea is brilliant .

OP posts:
Original poster
FairlyIncognito · 01/01/2023 11:31

Celeryfavour I listen to stuff too every time I wake up . It’ll be interesting to see if breaking this habit helps me sleep and last night I tried a technique I saw on you tube recently to help me get back to sleep , it involved breathing really slowly and deeply while keeping a rhythm tapping my sides one hand at a time in different turns or something ! It seemed to help

OP posts:
upfucked · 01/01/2023 11:32

FairlyIncognito · 31/12/2022 23:23

I want to stop looking at my phone in the night as I wake and look at it several times which is dreadful for my sleep .

Am I alone?!

I fail to turn my phone off or keep it in another room as don’t have the will power and hoping to find someone else battling too much phone use too and see if we can beat it.
I might replace it with reading a book at night but it’s hard as baby is in my room!

Could you use a kindle?

Celeryfavour · 01/01/2023 13:31

@FairlyIncognito hmm that's given me food for thought, there was me thinking I need my phone to get back to sleep, but now you've said that I think it's my phone that is keeping me awake!

Original poster
FairlyIncognito · 01/01/2023 14:10

celeryfavour I’m expecting it to take a week or few weeks to improve but I suspect it’ll be better for us to only listen to stuff in the day and find a relaxation technique or something less interesting to help us sleep. Keep me posted on how you get on, I failed so many times to sort this last year but I think it’s impacting my every day !

OP posts:
Sneakyblinders · 01/01/2023 20:48

I'm in. I think I need to turn all alerts off for periods at a time.

I am also planning on having one evening per week without phone / TV.

Original poster
FairlyIncognito · 01/01/2023 23:06

Welcome to newcomers, I’m so grateful for the company in battling this. One year I even said I’d get rid of my smart phone but my family told me not to be ridiculous! But I honestly want to be rid of it at times when I struggle not to use it too much .

im about to go to bed so going to leave it off and in another room but it takes a strong effort to do this ! I’m trying to find our kindles but haven’t found where I put them . I think it’ll help to read at night.

OP posts: