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These days, the amount of time we spend with/on our phones and whatever we do with the phones can almost be compared to how we human can not do without oxygen for anything less than 30 seconds. With our phones, we can earn money, get lastest news concerning differents fields, profession and niche, work remotely, get entertained, listen to music and many things, etc.
Honestly, I do not know how much time I spend on my phone each day but I can guess 11 hours plus everyday but it can be lesser when I am occupied with activities like school, house chores, church and rehearsals. The only way I know that I have had enough time with my phone is when network is bad, battery is low, out of data or when I have no movie to watch: these are what seperate my phone and I most times.
I have once stayed without phone for about 17 days and I didn't die, yeah I did not, though I thought I couldn't do without a phone. I was so bored that I began to sleep each time I am not occupied witb any activities, though I had laptop I was using to watch movies but laptop battery couldn't last like a phone battery. Each day in the first week without phone seems to be longer: as if there was additional 10 hours to each day.
Gradaully
I regulate or reduce my screen time only when I have other task to do. One effective way to regulate how much time spent on the phone is to plan your day ahead. Set goal for everyday a night before or very early in morning, plan the tasks you would perform for the day and assign the time each tasks will be carried. It helps to manage your time and keep you less busy on the phone.
Quality conversation could be developed when we spend lesser time on our phones and gadgets and focus more time on holding conversation with our friends. I experienced this first hand when I was without phone for 2 weeks plus, I imporved pretty well in my conversation and my friends and I had more longer and meaningful conversations that has built our friendship better.
Spending lesser time in front of screens also help you discover more about yourself, you get to see a part of you that you never knew existed. Imagine intentionally spending 4 hours everyday meditating on yourself, planning out how you intend to perform every activities of the day.
You also get to have more time to learn and enrich your knowledge. While I was without phone, I got better at initiating conversation than I used to, I learnt new words, I learnt new skilss too.
Now, I can say I am grateful that my phone got spoilt back then. Reducing time screen can only be done intentionally and will be effective when a task is used to replace the timw spent on phone.