Smartphone addiction, Nomophobia, and Smartphone detox.

“Technology improved our living standards. At the same time, it took over many things from human life. This depends on how we use technology. If you use it properly, it helps you improve your life. If you use it improperly, it destroys your life.”

Smartphones have taken over the time we spend on TV and computers. Practically they can do all the things a computer does nowadays. The technology is so simplified and become an extension to the human being.

It’s portable and easy to use for most people. The apps we install grabs our attention and make us spend a lot of time on them and of course, they are built to grab our attention.

Social media apps are making people spend a lot of time on them. They are developing every day into better versions but making human worse versions of themselves. The idea is to make business, and it’s okay. But it’s our turn to realize the impact of smartphones on us and control using them.

There are about 3.5+ billion smartphones used by people in this world and the number is increasing every day. The number of hours spent on phones is also increasing. Addiction to them is increasing and many people are getting several mental disorders because of this addiction for a long time.

Even smartphone addiction is showing the impact on relationships and making you lose valuable time and moments that keep us feel alive. This addiction is giving brain death.

There is modern phobia I came across and it is Nomophobia: fear of being without a mobile device. Yes, this is true and several researches have been performed to find the number of people who are having this phobia and the number is increasing every day enormously.

Addiction to smartphones have made living easy but the improper usage of it is converting human into zombies who are always hungry for likes, shares, chat, and content on the internet. Smartphones are making people dope.

These smartphones are working like drugs on human minds. Even researches have proved this point. When we feel good, dopamine chemical is released in our mind which makes us feel better and this same chemical is produced when drugs are taken and it’s very difficult to break drug addiction and the same way smartphones are working like drugs and addicting human to stick to them all the time.

Understand the further consequences of using phones too much and do smartphone detox.

• Don’t use the phone for alarm: Buy an alarm clock. Don’t use phones for alarms as it’s not advisable to use as first thing in the morning.
• Switch off your phone at night: It’s advisable to switch off mobile at night. Otherwise, your anxiety makes you look at the phone all the time taking away your sleep which results in bad health. It’s better to switch off at least before 30 minutes before you sleep.
• Turn off notifications: I tell you to do this. Turn off all the notifications. It brings down your anxiety levels and helps you spend less time on the phone.
• Delete unproductive apps: There are several apps that take away your time and valuable energy. Most social media apps fall into this category. Uninstall them and use them on the computer whenever necessary or install them on your phone when you feel it necessary. This way you spend less time on social media apps and can become productive.
• Email on computer: Check your mail twice a day. Make sure you check them on your computer.
• Get away from your phone: Leave your phone at home when unnecessary and at least one day in a week, don’t touch it at all.
• Spend time with family: Many people turn to other distractions to beat loneliness and anxiety. But that’s not right. It makes you more alone and anxious.
• Find a hobby: You need to find a hobby that keeps you active all the time. Instead of spending time on smartphone or on the internet, find a hobby or improve your skills by taking some courses.

“Remember, you own your phone. Make sure it doesn’t own you.”

Use technology smartly that enhances your living standards. Otherwise, this same technology can do a lot of harm to mankind. Don’t let what we create destroy us. Be wise to understand this and break your addiction and free yourself.