Help me get rid off my phone

[TiredMum10]

Hi Mn, sorry about posting in this topic. I need help. Please dont flame me.
I am addicted to my phone. I can literally lose hours on it. Its affecting me and I need to reduce my using. I know its simple to say just dont use it. I wish i can switch it off at times but my issues are:

1. I need to have it always with me to be contacted in case of dc school. Dh is not always immediately available.
2. The estate where i live is security controlled (not uk) so I am called before i allow anyone to enter our estate for deliveries, visitors etc.
3. I am self employed and work alot on SM so i cant just delete the apps.

I thought of having two phones for separate purposes but its just such a faff having both and carrying 2 around if i need to be out.

There must be something that I'm missing.

Can you install apps like teenagers can get to limit time on apps? Of course you could override them but it might prompt you.

Could you get a non smartphone to have with you, and do your sm on a laptop at a set time?

I’m considering doing exactly the same Op

• my phone is beginning to dictate my life.

Plus the never ending data mining is making me feel creeped out. I’ll probably do nothing until the evenings become lighter, then intend to trial a month or so or a non smartphone If I need the internet I’ll use the laptop

Best of luck

Can you not get a smart watch type thing?
Just answer calls on it?

When I've done this I've used a basic mobile and then focused laptop time for everything online. It got me out of the habit and now I'm back in smartphone but not all the time.

I feel your pain!

I was in the same boat, now every weekend I take my sim card out of the smart phone and put it into a Nokia 3310. That way people can still call or txt me but i can't get bogged down with the internet or whatsapp. Has been working well since Xmas when I started

Get a tablet and put the SM apps you need on there. Delete them from your phone all together.
Then get a timer on the tablet and make sure you limit yourself to an hour a day.
Keep tablet on a desk/somewhere not as comfortable as sofa or bed etc and make sure you leave it there. Its way to easy to lie on sofa scrolling and before you know it you've been sucked into the Instagram vortex.

yep, lose the smartphone and buy something small, tough and with a long battery life for text and call only. Will cost you about a tenner on ebay. I have one and spend about £20 a year on topups. You just need to remind people that you don't have mobile internet and they must call or text to contact you.

for work, use a tablet or laptop which won't work outside the house.

welcome to life!

Even better use a desktop so you can't get too cosy on the sofa with a laptop

Delete all time consuming apps Mumsnet like all social media, all non essential shopping i.e clothes etc.
Only have them on tablets or laptop at home. Saves yourself a bomb in accidental shopping too!

There's an app called Flora I use as I'm in a very similar position.

Basically you set how long you want to spend off your phone i.e. 15 minutes - a few hours.

I think you can still answer calls but if you click onto your phone you loose. If you stay off your phone for that amount of time you get to grow a little garden - it's kinda cute. I find it just stops 'having a scroll'.

Another thing is that I look at say mumsnet in the morning but not after i've had my morning tea until the afternoon.

it's bloody hard breaking a phone addition.

Can you not get a smart watch type thing?Just answer calls on it?

You need to have your phone within connectivity distance (defeats the object) or have a cellular SIM card watch - the likes of which are stupidly expensive (Apple Watch + cellular is £449?)

What are you spending hours on ?

Can’t you buy kids phone watches? I thought they were cheap enough?

Thank you all for the suggestions. I'm going to try a few such as the tablet. I did try the swapping the sims to a basic but then I lost it and some contacts didnt copy.
but definitely some good ideas to try.