To think I am actually addicted to my phone?

[clemintineharrowdyne]

I cannot put my phone down. I cannot remember the last time I watched a film or any tv without having my phone in one hand playing a game or scrolling. Same when I'm reading a book, can't concentrate, picking my phone up every 2 minutes. I go so fast from app to app even when I've just been on it two minutes before and know I've not missed anything.

I say to myself that i will put my phone down and the next minute I'm back on it. If it's not in my hand being played with I honestly don't know what to do with myself. My hand feels like it needs to be doing something.

The worst is playing the game, I'm able to absentmindedly play the game whilst watching whatever is on tv and pay attention but I genuinely feel like now I can't watch tv without my phone.

I'm averaging about 9 hours a day on it (I am a student and it's still the summer) and it's really starting to impact my day to day life. I literally feel like my arm has been cut off if it's not in my hand.

AIBU to think I have a serious addiction to my phone? What can I do about it?

You can get timed mini safes on Amazon - so you lock it away at 9am and you can’t access it till the timer releases it at 1pm or whenever you set the release to.

Yoo cannot override it so if you don’t have a landline you might need a Nokia brick for emergencies - but that’s very cheap.

Oh my god, I could have written this! Scary. Going to read the thread now....

I used to use the Off Time app and had it set to block my access to my phone from midnight until 7am. Then it became a nightmare when my mum had an accident and I was in the hospital and wanted to phone my sister and the phone was locked for 15 minutes by the app. It kept resetting the timing when the screen shut down, so I had to spend 15 long minutes constantly touching the screen to stop it shutting down during the 15 minute countdown.
When I finally got into the phone, I deleted the app. It was horribly stressful not to be able to use the phone when I most needed to.
The thought of locking it in a mini safe makes me feel quite anxious. What if I heard it ringing and couldn't answer it? What if it was something urgent or important or an emergency?

I’m the same. I bought a lockbox from Amazon (bit on the expensive side) it’s for the kitchen but you can buy one big enough to hold a tablet/iPad. It has a timer and once you put something in, you can’t take it back out until the time is up, no matter what. It’s worth the money for the productivity if you’re serious about using it. Plus you can put the treats in it that you’re trying to avoid eating as well.

I use it when I’m studying or writing essays because I find I want to look at my phone more to avoid doing the stuff I don’t want to do. If I lock it away, I don’t have a choice. I also got a digital alarm for my bedroom and I leave my phone charging in the livingroom now so I don’t take it to bed with me at all. I’ve found this also helps quell the urge to look at it after a while.

The problem with lock boxes is that there are things I need my phone for- essential apps at work/elderly relatives/kids schools etc… etc…

It’s finding a balance that is essential in modern life but so difficult.

Following for tips as I’m terrible.

Turning the phone screen to black and white really helps me - it holds my attention less. I still pick it up but rather than spending ages scrolling / reading mindless crap online I just check my emails and put it down again…

You quickly triple click the home button / off button on an iPhone (and do the same to revert to colour)

I'm the same. I knit though when watching telly - my hands are occupied and I end up with a nice new jumper after a few weeks (I'm not very fast).

I've just seen this on the BBC News.
China cuts children's gaming to one hour per day only.
A bit extreme perhaps, but sometimes I wish there were some kind of official restriction or limit here - not just for children but for for everyone.

I'm old enough to remember when TV here was very limited. Only a few channels; no daytime TV; only a couple of hours of children's TV per day - and the whole thing shut down before midnight.

Nowadays, everything is constantly available in unlimited quantities and many people struggle to reach a sensible and healthy level of usage.

I am growing to hate my phone, I usually get to a point at least once a day when I feel that I want to throw it out of the window because it has used up so much of my time. And it's my fault obviously, not the phone!

Right, starting now I am going to make a proper conscious effort to wean myself off it. There are so many better and more productive things I could be doing with my time.

I tried ‘how to break up with your phones’ by Catherine Price and got my use right down and my head much clearer, but it hasn’t lasted. I use mine for distraction when I’m anxious and life has been tricky recently. Need to try again as it actually really doesn’t help.

I have recently broke my phone and I am seriously contemplating not getting another one.

I was spending far too much time on it and the mindless scrolling is so pointless. I probably remember about 20 mins of info from looking at hours of the screen.

OP and everyone else struggling with this, I bought this www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07XP2ZP6P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8 a while ago and it's great for phone addiction. You can lock it away for as long as you like and it does help break the addiction. There used to be an excellent app called Offtime but I think it's only for android. I'd love to go back to an old Nokia phone.

Following...

I think Inhave adhd and it stimulates that "want input now" area. That and food 😔. Im not sure how to move away.

The problem with getting a Nokia is that I'd need to buy a SatNav and probably a camera and what about all the nice Whatsapp groups I'm in? So hard to go back, but would feel so freeing.

Me too, it’s sucking my whole life away.

I've been the same, I tend to aimlessly scroll when I'm anxious especially, which during covid has been challenging. I have an app which limits my use, I set the time parameters and reduce it gradually.

I'm going to try turning my phone off in the day while WFH. I'm about to start a v senior promotional role and do not need the distraction of the phone. It will also stop my bestie - who I love but messages me throughout the whole day and doesn't appreciate when I can't help - from contacting me. Its draining at times

Turn it off and put it in a drawer upstairs

If you have an iPhone I would set app limit on all your apps. Mine is set at 5 hours which is still a lot for some people but for me it means I’m not letting it get out of control. It forces me to pick up a book, go for a walk etc. If I’m busy I don’t get near 5 hours but if I’m quiet then it’s a challenge.

I also could have written your post OP. I’m retired and live on my own. I don’t own a tv and watch programmes on my tablet. The thought of losing either is scary as other than physically meeting people they seems to have my whole bloody life on them - doctors, health records and medication access/travel apps and sat nav/ banking/energy/ WhatsApp to keep in touch with family and friends. Apps for RAC, weather etc. And it costs me a fortune as I’m always on Etsy/ebay and Amazon buying stuff I don’t need on a whim.

My concentration is shot and I can’t seem to read more than a page of a book at a time or watch a film or even a YouTube video unless i get into it straight away. I always used to have books on the go and have a good concentration span. Now my mind is flitting about like a bat on crack. When I am occupied with something like cooking /baking or crafts im fine. I guess that’s one answer as pp‘s have said - keeping your hands busy. When my hands are covered in dough or reek of onion then I dont want to get my phone dirty or break off to wash my hands.

@80sMum

I've just seen this on the BBC News. China cuts children's gaming to one hour per day only. A bit extreme perhaps, but sometimes I wish there were some kind of official restriction or limit here - not just for children but for for everyone.

I'm old enough to remember when TV here was very limited. Only a few channels; no daytime TV; only a couple of hours of children's TV per day - and the whole thing shut down before midnight.

Nowadays, everything is constantly available in unlimited quantities and many people struggle to reach a sensible and healthy level of usage.

I'm in my 60s and remember that time well! as you say, everyting now is both instant and constant.

I think we've all developed FOMO to an alarming extent.

I’ve just downloaded an app called Opal - free trial for a week. You can have it block your distracting apps or all internet. You can still use your phone. I’ll have it on a timer from 9.30-6am and from 9-5. Seems to work quite well but we’ll see today. I’d be willing to fork out the £60 annual subscription if it works!!

I am similar and I’m so worried about my children seeing it and thinking it’s normal