According to IDC Research, 80% of smartphone users check their device within 15 minutes of waking up each morning.
I’m sure I many of you can relate to that. I know I can.
I’m also wondering if I’m alone on my habit of checking my phone throughout the night?
According to Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers’s annual Internet Trends report, people check their smartphones 150 times each day.
As well we should too because you all know damn well that if we don’t, the world will end and we will have missed it on Facebook!
A Fact Sadder Than Any Research
Look around you and take note of how many people are scrolling during movies, at their kid’s concert, at restaurants and pardon me for getting personal . . .
It might be happening at your own dinner table!
I’m not going to lie, technology has been really good to me and my family.
When I cannonballed into the social media pool back in 2008, I had no idea that it was going to lead to a lucrative training business.
By the same token, I think we need to take a good look at ourselves every once in a while, and understand that being addicted to anything isn’t demonstrating control of our life.
Sadly, like other addictions, there is a price that we pay.
There IS A Cure For This
1) Awareness is certainly the first step. Telling your ego to go wait in the car the next time you find yourself justifying this addictive behavior is another step!
2) Don’t start the day by reading your email or checking your phone.
3) Become conscious of how many times per day you check your phone. Again, awareness is the first step. There are actually a few apps out there that help you tally this up. I’ll report back to everyone once I check them out. Meanwhile, can anyone recommend one?
4) Limit your smartphone checking to certain times or perhaps once an hour.
Time out: That was difficult for me to write because I do know that world might end during that hour and I am at risk for missing the memo but that’s part of the addiction.
5) Don’t you ever check your phone when you are meeting with others. Obviously, you get a pass if you’re a parent or if you’re knee deep in a crisis. Probably a good thing to tell the other party about it. Manners still matter.
Sales Managers/Business Owners: Tell your team “No technology during our meetings”
6) No technology when you are breaking bread with others and especially at your own dinner table. Your house, your rules, tough sh*t if people don’t like it!
7) Perhaps we should resist our need to tell the world what we’re doing via our status updates and pay more attention to being present. You know, actually doing stuff instead of tweeting about it?
8) Consider an “Email Free Friday” policy. This one is rough and I admit that in some ways it might not be practical but picking up a phone once in a while is still a good thing. There are some companies out there that have strict rules about employees emailing each other when they are housed in the same facility.
9) Consider a dead stop on your technology at a designated time each day.
Aside from simply kicking a bad habit, surely there must be some time management advantages to this?
I Need Your Help With Something
I’d like for you to take a moment to weigh in with your thoughts!
Where do you stand with your smartphone?
Honestly, are you a tad addicted to it like I am?
What else can we add to this list to help others tone it down a bit with that phone becoming surgically attached?
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