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Original poster

Who else is fed up of being on their phone constantly?

27 replies

Wolfen · 08/10/2023 12:58

Forget about the kids on their gadgets all day, I'm even worse!
Who else has reduced their phone time and improved their life?

OP posts:
overfed · 08/10/2023 13:04

I deleted Facebook & in doing so I hardly went on Instagram. It was very freeing. The amount of times I automatically just pick up my phone & scroll & end up down a rabbit hole of shit that has no relevance to my life. Social media is brilliant (my brothers all live abroad so seeing what they are doing is lovely) but it's also completely fabricated. Someone I work with who is 27 gets so down that they don't look like the people they see on their feed. I tell them that those people don't actually look like that in 'real life' it's all filters or fillers. I'm not biting at fillers btw as I have them myself. But luckily I'm at the age where I know it's all a load of bollocks & it doesn't get to me. I'm dreading my daughter becoming a teenager for this very reason. Sorry I went off on a tangent there!

Allmarbleslost · 08/10/2023 13:30

I'm completely addicted to my phone and I hate it. I want to start making a real effort to be on it less and I'm going to set myself some rules - I just haven't worked out what they are yet!

Billappa · 08/10/2023 13:33

Me!

Original poster
Wolfen · 08/10/2023 13:36

I went off and did a few tasks. Thought I'd been off my phone for ages and seen I'd created this thread 34 mins ago Blush

I've promised to take Dd out for a bit. I'm going to give her my full attention and not be on my phone at all. I wasted the whole morning on my phone. It's so stupid.

OP posts:
ReeseWitherfork · 08/10/2023 14:30

I’m really good at putting it in another room now, forgetting about it for a bit. But then I need to check my bank balance or the weather forecast or whatever else, pick it up and away we go. I’ve even turned off most of my notifications. I’d happily have a dumb phone and use a computer for the bank etc but I wouldn’t want to lose WhatsApp (as it’s 99% of how I contact people).

Billappa · 08/10/2023 15:27

@ReeseWitherfork I’m the same! I’ve tried a few of the apps but nothing stuck.

Yorkshiredolls · 08/10/2023 15:41

I don’t know what the answer is but Solidarity with you, id really like to use it less but I don’t know how.
Ive deleted all my Social media except facebook. And mumset.. i want to be on them less but I dint know how. Is there some kind of limiter or blocker app? Because blocking mumsnet website does not work on my phone

Original poster
Wolfen · 08/10/2023 18:01

Not done too badly today but it has been a real effort!
I've just kept myself busy and put my phone away.

OP posts:
trader21c · 08/10/2023 18:31

I need to do the same sometimes I just leave it at home but you can waste so much time checking social media and I’m as guilty as anyone

Darcy86 · 08/10/2023 20:01

Honestly I feel this so much! I used to be such an avid reader and I've got lots of books waiting to be read, I know for a fact I'd feel better if I did read instead of being stuck to my phone but I just squander my evenings by mindless scrolling. I hate it but I can't stop. Smart phones are amazing inventions but equally the bane of my life!

Ginger1982 · 08/10/2023 20:03

Yup! DH and I usually watch a film every Saturday night and last night we literally scrolled on our phones through the whole thing. We need a no phone rule. It's just ridiculous. DH is also one of these people who can't multitask, so if I ask him a question whilst he's scrolling I get dead air in response.

Goldfish41 · 08/10/2023 20:04

Completely - I know I’d have so much more time if I didn’t spend so much scrolling through Twitter - and Mumsnet! - but I really don’t know how to stop it, it’s reflexive at this point.

Thighdentitycrisis · 08/10/2023 20:07

I’m comforting myself with the idea that if I gave up smoking, I can give up scrolling🤞

Hedonism · 08/10/2023 20:07

🙋🏼‍♀️ me. I hate it! I'm totally addicted. And as we use them for more and more things (e.g. turning on the radio via Sonos, payments, satnav, etc) they are harder to avoid.

I gave my phone to DH one weekend and asked him to hide it, it was quite liberating...

randompotato · 08/10/2023 20:18

I'm quite bad on my phone, I'll hold my hands up. But since having DC I do make a conscious effort to be on it less, it's so easy to be sucked into social media 24/7 though.

DH is off the scale though - glued to his hand constantly, it's seriously bloody annoying. Every night just lies there with it in his hand. Watching stuff on TV / films together is now just a no go as I can't be arsed explaining what's happening to him as he misses stuff as he's on it at the same time. He even watches you tube as he's going to sleep..

We had a child free afternoon recently and went out for tea, just the two of us, first time in ages. Nice country pub, I spent most of the afternoon watching him scroll on his phone, to the point where I just walked off and sat outside instead - and told him if im that much of a boring date there's no point.

Yet he genuinely can't see the problem...

Xiaoxiong · 08/10/2023 20:27

@ReeseWitherfork I'm the same. I am horrified by my screen time but then I realise that I have been on:
Banking app
Money saving app
Kids school app
Kids weekend sports club app
Google translate to communicate with someone in their own language
Browser to book tickets for playground which I discover on arrival has timed entry
Maps for driving directions to said playground
Kindle which has my book on it
Puppy toileting app
Amazon to order more poo bags for puppy
And all the services that I call, like BT or utilities companies - who send me a one-time password on my phone for security

My life is through my phone and I don't know any way around it, unfortunately.

BettyOBarley · 08/10/2023 20:38

Me!

I got myself a library card, a Kindle (still a screen though) and some jigsaws!!

I'm still on my phone right now though, but it has cut my time down in general.

Whalewatchers · 08/10/2023 23:32

I try not to be on it in front of our young children as I don't want them to think it's normal to live your life staring at a small screen!! If I am on it, I'll say, just need to send Mum a quick message, or just checking the weather quickly, etc. letting them know what useful, quick, task I am doing before I put it down and give them my full attention.

I hate being a slave to my phone.

Normcore · 08/10/2023 23:34

I need to get off mumsnet. I’m addicted . The feminist board is amazing.

Myneedycat · 09/10/2023 04:51

I recently spent a week somewhere with no signal and no internet. I was amazed how much better I felt . I felt genuinely relaxed and happy for the first time in years and read about six books with real concentration. It’s made me realise that I’m a slave to my phone.

Forgotmylogindetails · 09/10/2023 04:57

@randompotato

same,

I actually lost my shit because I’m talking to him about the kids shit school reports and he was really vacant.

checked his Twitter and realised during the time we’re chatting he’s talking to random strangers sending stupid memes.

it’s rude and it’s ignorant and like wise couldn’t see a problem.

he’s single now so can spend as much time on social media as he likes !

Sleeplessinseattle234 · 09/10/2023 05:32

Have u tried only allowing urself on it at certain times. As an example I started the other day to really try and only be on it while sat in bed. So only morning and evening.

I also got rid of Facebook , Twitter and Instagram and I don’t miss any of them.

i did try the iPhone section for screen time. But I found it widely inaccurate. I listen to audible a lot all day and it only ever has me down as listening to five mins tops. So I don’t use that as reliable data anymore.

but I found only being on it at a certain has actually helped. I do have you tube on some days. I love learning about new things. As an example I have been deep diving into learning about population control ( no idea why my deep dives are fairly random ) and have been learning about what problems different countries are facing. So listening to you tube videos and podcasts. I don’t class that as mindless scrolling.

think it’s a case of using your phone as a tool. Not just mindless scrolling. Which has a really bad damaging effect on ur brain in so many ways.

BlastedPimples · 09/10/2023 05:39

I'm so bad. So bad on my phone.

I don't want to reach old age and think I spent my life on my 'phone, watching other people live their lives and achieve stuff.

But that is what is going to happen.

I'm unwell right now with Covid so I'm binge watching but I need to discipline myself when well again and to think, "What will I learn? What will I gain? How will I progress?" if I go on my 'phone.

It's starting to look like cigarettes. A big con played on people. No benefit and only damage due to the extent of their addiction.

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 09/10/2023 05:42

Darcy86 · 08/10/2023 20:01

Honestly I feel this so much! I used to be such an avid reader and I've got lots of books waiting to be read, I know for a fact I'd feel better if I did read instead of being stuck to my phone but I just squander my evenings by mindless scrolling. I hate it but I can't stop. Smart phones are amazing inventions but equally the bane of my life!

No exaggeration but I haven't read a book for years. Lots of years. And my phone is the sole reason why.

I've also now lost the ability to be absorbed by films or TV series as I'm so used to scrolling while I "watch". It's shameful really. I get neck ache too.

I'll often be on reddit, reading threads about the program I've literally got on the TV in front of me🫠

I also have terrible insomnia and struggle to shut my mind off. There's a link, I'm sure of it.

Heidineedshelp · 09/10/2023 05:46

This is a massive problem for me. Massively affects my mental health.