In today’s phone-centric world, it’s hard to disconnect and live in the present moment. In this blog, I’m going to dive into the reasoning behind why we are so addicted to our phones, and what we can do about it.
What is stealing our focus?
Constant attention-grabbing notifications and apps that are wired to force-feed us content are just two out of a million ways that large corporations are manipulating users and stealing our precious time. Now, why would companies do this? Because the more data they can collect from us, the more data they can sell and profit off of. But what can we do about it?
My personal hack
I think that you do not have to be “all-or-nothing” with your social media or phone usage. I like to keep my phone on do not disturb, and every 3 or 4 hours, I check in to see if anyone needs me or if anything is happening that I can be involved in. This way, I can still be connected to my phone but also live in the present moment and give my full attention to those around me.
Facts to be mindful of
There are tons of statistics out there about the way that our brains are distracted by our phones, but here are a few interesting ones to think about:
- It takes the average person 23 minutes to get back to the task they were doing when they are distracted.
- The average sleeper 20-30 years ago got 7-8 hours, whereas now, the average person gets 5-6 hours of sleep.
Both of these facts showcase the impact of phones on our daily lives. It can be hard to disconnect, but putting your phone in the other room while you’re working or when you go to bed can help raise your productivity and sleep quality tremendously.
What we should do now
In order to get to the root of this issue, increase the amount of time spent with loved ones and decrease the amount of time spent on your phone. Strive to do work that is meaningful for you and that gives you a sense of purpose.
If you’re looking for more motivational and personal development content, check out my YouTube, Instagram, TikTok or website at acebaker.com!