Serious phone addiction

[Getoffyrfone]

Anyone else addicted to their phone?

I'm on mine for hours and hours. Not just scrolling, but checking emails, WhatsApp messages, banking, research, buying stuff, watching catch up while I cook, playing games to unwind etc.

I don't read books anymore, used to write and paint a lot, it's as though my creativity is dying and my attention span is dwindling.

Any tips or advice? I realise the irony of posting here!

Put time limits on the apps, when your time is up for the day put the phone down and do something else.

I’m the same. I hate it. I am trying to get into the habit of leaving my phone in another room with the ringer on loud. Physical separation works. Then I think I’m ok for a while. And 4 weeks later I’m back to where I was.

if I didn’t need to do so much online I’d switch to a dumb phone. Instead I’ll probably have another app purge soon.

It’s hard, I’m like this too. I had some success with an app that blocked the worst time thief’s (so I could still book cinema tickets or similar but not use Facebook etc etc)
I force myself to read books and then I stay totally away from my phone, which is nice. I do have an Apple Watch though so if anything urgent happened I would still know.

I found app timers didn't work for me because I just turned them off eventually (hopefully they will work better you). I'm also on my phone far too much and I don't know how to reduce either, when I'm out and about, my phone stays in my bag so I've een out loads this summer and my phone usage has reduced. But I know in winter, itll likely increase again. I'd love to get rid but I live abroad and it's my main communication with family so I'm reluctant.

This is both me and my husband. Every now and then I vow to leave the phone downstairs at night to let me read (I used to read all the time, now it's a few pages a night)..but it doesn't last long. I bought myself a basic alarm clock so I didn't need the phone as an alarm too.
It's the first thing I reach for when I wake up. It's a real problem.

The Freedom app is pretty good for cutting down.

Sort of glad it's not just me!

I've tried setting limits, I just change them.

It's awful, I can't even sit and watch a programme on TV or sit through a film without my phone.

I wish I could do without it!!

Think I need to try leaving it off, in another room. And I need to kick the habit of being on it for hours in the evening.

Giving up smoking was much easier.

I'm on the phone all the time. Don't see it as a problem.

I checked and I use my phone on average 6-7 hours a DAY. Some days longer!! That's like another full time job on top!

I made a huge effort to use my phone less yesterday, but still used it for 4.5 hours.

Going to try and aim for 1 hour a day, I've set limits and I've deleted loads of Apps.

If I want to listen to music or a Podcast as I clean the house, watch a programme on Catch Up while I cook, or if I'm using it for directions when driving, I won't count this - but just pointless scrolling I'll limit to 1 hour.

If I need to research something or check my emails, I'll use my laptop in my home office instead of checking the phone. Will really try and break the habit. Especially in the evening - that's when I'm on it for a good chunk of the evening.

I am at the moment because I was made redundant and I'm bored. I start a new job in September but right now everyone else is at work and teen DS is often out with friends. I'm trying to read more but I end up scrolling a lot.

I hate my life revolving around my phone - DH bloody loves a gadget and I do not. TV remote, security cameras, music/radio is all controlled through phones in this house. School apps (2 of them, one for progress one for message). Plus I want to be near my phone in case the kids do something cute I want to take a photo of. So I CANT be away from my phone. I try most days to leave my phone upstairs etc but I get so pissed off having to go and get it all the time. Also I’m googling stuff all the time.

Obviously that’s different to mindless scrolling but the proximity to the phone leads to mindlessness for me.

And yes I look back through photos I take ALL the time and they bring me lots of joy, so that’s a valid need for the phone for me.

I’m trying to work through this issue. Like you, app limits do nothing, I just override them. I’m going to try locking my phone away each evening after dinner and only DH has passcode to unlock!

The last 5 days I am only allowing myself on it in the morning while everyone is waking up and chilling, and then again when my kids have gone to bed.

I have been making a massive effort to be present during the day . Also to be more productive.

I am determined to continue for the summer break.

I managed to leave the phone downstairs last night. I've been reading the Bob Mortimer book, The Satsuma Complex (awful).

I’m similar but in my case IPad addiction. Can just spend hours scrolling Mumsnet/Facebook and playing solitaire. I don’t get through anything like as many books as I used to.