It’s May 3. That’s crazy.
Not only that, but it’s time for another monthly resolution. April got lost in the mail, but May is here and ready to go. We’re going to step it up a notch this month and tackle the S-word: screens.
This one hits close to home, because a) I write for a living, and b) I’m a millennial. And in case you haven’t heard, we millennials like our screens.
In fact, what prompted this particular resolution was my daughter. I was reading an article on my phone one morning, and she jokingly said, “You’re like Skipper in Barbie. She loves her phone.”
Ouch.
Now, before you judge me too harshly, I spend a lot of time with my girls. They aren’t lacking for attention or love or care. But still. That was a gut punch.
While my husband and I have a “no phone” rule for the dinner table, I don’t want to be that parent. And I certainly don’t want her to grow up to become that teenager.
So May’s resolution is to reduce phone screen time. The specific amount is up to you, but I’m shooting for a 20% reduction in non-work related screen time (my work is almost exclusively on a laptop and generally does not interfere with family time).
Being Aware
If you’re not sure how to check your screen time, you can follow these simple instructions for an iPhone. For an Android, follow these.
While we often use our phones for good reasons, it’s so easy to overuse them. Plus, there are many tasks we can do equally well without them.
For instance, I use my phone to listen to music or read the Bible. Those are good things, in of themselves. But I can do them just as effectively without using a screen. I also like to use my phone for recipes. But I have actual cookbooks that haven’t been used in a while.
That’s going to change this month.
The point of this resolution is not to demonize phones, but it will provide perspective and help foster intentionality in using them. That doesn’t allow for scrolling mindlessly or reaching for our phones when we’re bored.
Creating Boundaries
Here are a few suggestions to help curve the temptation to use our phones as a crutch:
- App time limits–You can set time limits for certain apps. So when you say, “I’m just going to check Facebook,” you don’t fall down the rabbit hole of comments sections and cat videos.
- Phone bedtime–Put your phone away at a certain time each night. If you use your phone as an alarm (I do), you can put it in your nightstand while you read a book or relax in another room.
- Turn off notifications–I have certain group texts on silent. It’s not that I don’t want to interact with the group, but inevitably one person sends a message and then it’s a rapid succession of dings. By putting the group on silent, I can see the messages and respond at the best time. You can customize these, too, so you don’t miss calls from certain people, like your spouse.
- Accountability partner–Kids are the best, because they will CALL YOU OUT. But if you don’t have kids (or don’t care for their brutal form of honesty), choose a friend to check in with you. Have them ask for your screen time stats or bring it to your attention when they see you on your phone.
- Put your phone out of reach. This is one of the best options for me, personally. If I leave my phone in my purse when I get home, I rarely get it out unless I need to. But if my phone is right next to me while I’m doing something, it’s easy to just pick it up and look at it for no reason. Putting the phone away forces us to be intentional about using it. Out of sight, out of mind.
You Can Do This
If you find yourself a little trepidatious to start, that’s natural. But this resolution is worth it. Being present is worth it. Finding more time in your day is worth it. Tuning out the distractions is worth it. Having more peace is worth it.
So, are you in? Message me or leave me a note in the comments.