It has actually come to this— We're all addicted to our phones. Obsessed, as if they have an upcoming expiration date or they'll be taken from us at any moment. Did you know that seeing a "like" on your social media post actually releases dopamine in your brain?
Business Insider says, "The minute you take a drug, drink alcohol, smoke a cigarette if those are your poison when you get a like on social media, all of those experiences produce dopamine, which is a chemical that’s associated with pleasure." We consciously need to try not to obsess over notifications. Ridiculous.
For anyone looking to step away from the obsession, here are nine ways to loosen the never-ending death grip you have on your phone:
1. Set big group messages to "do not disturb."
They'll blow your phone up all day, and fewer notifications mean fewer reasons to inattentively grab your phone without even thinking. You can always turn it off if you're expecting an important call or in an intense group chat.
2. Do the phone stack while out with friends.
First one who grabs their phone grabs the tab or a round of drinks. That's enough to keep you off your phone... right?
3. Set your phone to airplane mode while working out or driving.
Focus on the task at hand without any nagging notifications. 99.9 percent of the time you really don't need to be texting, checking your email, or scrolling through social media while on the treadmill or road. It's not that urgent.
4. Replace scrolling through social media before bed with reading or journaling.
Fun fact: "Looking through your phone until you get tired" isn't the best wind-down activity. The blue light your phone screen gives off actually tells your brain to stay awake.
5. Use an actual alarm clock instead of your phone alarm.
Don't start your day by picking up the exact thing you're trying to detach yourself from, and there's a better chance you won't end up laying in bed, scrolling through social media for an hour, delaying the start of your day.
6. Delete Twitter and Facebook.
Deleting Twitter and Facebook from your phone eliminates so many notifications. You can check them just as easily, but less frequently, from your computer. Unfortunately, our prized Instagrams and Snapchats don't have the same functionality on other devices and, because of this, are harder to part ways with.
7. If you're out at a bar, put your phone in your purse or pocket.
1. You're missing out on why you're there: to enjoy your friends' company or socialize. 2. You should probably be aware of your surroundings while around drunk people. 3. If you're one of the drunk people, your beer goggles will have you leaving your phone sitting on the bar where you should have left your fifth drink. I could go on forever.
8. Unsubscribe from unnecessary email lists.
Again, fewer notifications mean fewer instances of you grabbing your phone on auto pilot instinctively. Be real with yourself, you don't need 10 emails a day from Bed Bath & Beyond, Forever 21, or the Monster job site.
9. Stop bringing your phone to the bathroom with you.
Think about how gross it is and you'll stop doing it.
