1. Keep your phone away when you’re spending with other people
Are you ever hanging out with someone who is constantly checking their phone? Or their phone is always lighting up with notifications? You see it, they see it, and it’s a never-ending distraction. It doesn’t matter who you are with or how informal the situation is; It IS getting in the way of your interactions with them. Â
2. Put your phone in the other room while you do homework
Just do it because I promise you’re going to get a lot more done.
3. Take social media breaks
If you’re the type of person that is constantly checking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tinder, Venmo, etc., it might be beneficial to your social and mental health to designate a small amount of time (baby steps, guys) each month that you delete those apps and focus on your IRL interactions.
4. Use one device at a time
So it’s any given weeknight… you’re watching TV, cell phone in one hand or your laptop open on your lap. This may sound silly but I know we all do it. Try cutting it down to one device at a time. Plug your phone in across the room while you watch TV or surf the internet. Honestly, it’s probably going to save you time by not having to rewind your TV show after you didn’t see what happened because you were watching a Tasty video you saw on Facebook.
5. Remember that social media posts and likes DO NOT define your life.
It’s sad to say but as social media has grown and technology has become even more advanced, it has become increasingly important to have a certain lifestyle or aesthetic. It’s incredibly important that we remember that only the things we do IRL define who we are, not the number of likes on a post or if that certain someone saw your story.
Let’s strive to make sure that we don’t let social media and the little boxes we hold in our hands all day control our actions. We are all still human beings and it is not healthy for us to be so engulfed in something that is practically a virtual reality.Â