Confession. This information detox has been so good for me in so many ways, but one area I am failing is using my phone less. I love social media, specifically Facebook and Instagram, and I think it’s safe to say that I’m addicted to the connection I get there. However, both apps are a time suck, and if I’m not careful, hours can go by where I have nothing to show for my time.

I have found setting some boundaries and rules around my phone use can help reign in on the abuse.

Here are a few ways I’m trying not to pick up my phone so much.

1. Setting a limit on app usage (especially social media!) iphone lets you set limits with screen tracking. I set the downtime from 9:00 pm to 7:00 am, so I’m not able to use apps during that time. It’s very helpful.

2. Leave it downstairs and in the kitchen at night. It never comes up to bed with me anymore. And for those of you that SWEAR you need it for an alarm clock, you’re fooling yourself, buy an alarm clock.

3. Block time in my day to answer messages, post, or do anything on my phone. I also have started to use my computer to respond to Facebook messages-its much faster to type them, and I find that I am more focused if I sit down to respond all at once.

4. Not check it right away in the mornings. Sometimes I’m good at this, sometimes I’m not. But I’m trying to be more present with Holtan, especially during mealtimes.

5. Leaving it in the car when I’m running my errands. I tend to get distracted by it when I’m grocery shopping, etc. I can get errands done a lot faster if I don’t have it with me.

6. Stop checking Facebook and Instagram excessively. I sometimes find myself going back and forth between them not even thinking about it. I deleted the apps from my phone one weekend, and I really didn’t miss them, in fact, it helped me “log off” for time for myself or with my family. I have been periodically deleting them from my phone when I feel like its getting out of control again.

7. Have a notebook open and a pen available at all times. When I feel the need to message someone or post something, I write it down instead. Later I come back to it to share, connect or expand on it. I have a lot of ideas, so this is a great way to keep them all in one place. I also like to use the google keep app on my phone if I’m on the go.

Related topics:

Read the rules of my info detox Here

Read what I’ve learned from the detos Here