5 Things to Overcome Your Tech Addiction

Technology advancement has made everything in our lives easier. Someone does not have to wait for three days to get your message. You do not have to be in the same location as your colleague or partner to see and talk to each other face-to-face. You do not have to go to the bank to deposit or withdraw money. And yes, you do not have to worry about finding your soul mate. With dating apps, anything is possible.

Technology has revolutionized everything and its future is very bright. Soon, robots will be working in factories and cars will be driving themselves around; something that could not be imaginable fifty years ago.

Anything you think about can be found on the internet. All your problems have already been solved. You do not need to visit the library and spend countless hours reading a book to find a solution to your problem. Just Google it and very many solutions will appear in seconds.

Information is everywhere and we are constantly seeking it. We are curious to know what’s happening around the world. We watch the news, read blogs and spend countless hours on social media platforms, reacting to other people’s appearances and suggestions. And you know what? We love it!

We have done it repeatedly and now it’s an insidious habit. We can’t put our phones down even when we want to. We have allowed others to control the way we think and feel. You post a picture that doesn’t get a lot of likes and you get depressed just thinking about it. You send someone a message and he or she does not reply and you feel so rejected and unwanted.

Like a two-edged sword, technology can save or destroy your life. Just like the mind, technology is a good servant but a poor master. Being addicted to technology is similar to being addicted to tobacco or alcohol.

And we are experiencing its effects without being aware. We are reactive to everything around us. Face-to-face communication is not as lively as it used to be. We think we know everything when we know anything. We tend to listen to other people’s opinions instead of listening to our intuition.

How do you know if you are addicted to technology? If you are spending more time on electronic devices than with people around you, you’re probably addicted. Again, if you feel like you do not have a life without your device, you are also addicted. Here is a test for you.

Put your phone and other electronic gadgets away for 10 to 24 hours. If it’s impossible, you are definitely addicted to technology. And it’s time you took control of your life before it’s too late. Use technology but do not allow it to use you.

If you are addicted to technology, do not feel bad. It’s an insidious habit that crept in without your knowledge. And you can break the chains and be free. Many people across the world have done it. This is proof that you can do it too.

In this article, we will discuss the five best tools or tips you can use to overcome your tech addiction. Please proceed with me.

1. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop

When you are busy working on an important project or task, you tend to forget about your phone and social media platforms. When idle, you tend to reach for your phone and other electronic gadgets to avoid getting bored.

Creating a list of the most important tasks you need to work on before you sleep or when you wake up will keep you busy and will improve your productivity and results. Starting your day without a list will definitely increase the idle moments.

If you have an urge to reach for your phone and start scrolling, ask yourself, “Is this the best use of my time right now?” Maybe you should be doing something more meaningful such as journaling, taking a walk, working out, or meditating for a couple of minutes.

2. Have a strong why

You’ve definitely heard the popular saying, “It’s easier said than done.” How many times have you drawn a line on the sand and resolved to do something and failed? Maybe you wanted to work out and lose weight but after a few weeks, you gave up the gym. Maybe you wanted to read three books in a month and you ended up reading only one book in a year.

The truth is you relied on willpower and it failed you. If you want to break the chains of tech addiction, it will probably fail if you use it. So, what should you use? Why-power!

Your why will be the determining factor of your success or failure on this journey. Similar to professional essay writers, come up with a strong enough why. Your why can be something like To reconnect with your family and friends, to be free and independent or to know yourself better.

Write down your why and place it somewhere you can see it every day. Look at it regularly. Imagine how everything will be when you conquer your addiction.

3. Avoid using your phone in bed

After having your dinner, power off all your tech devices. Using your phone and other tech devices in bed affects your sleeping pattern which ultimately affects your mood and performance the next day. How?

In the morning, the sun produces blue wavelength light which reduces the production of the sleep-causing hormone known as melatonin and that causes us to wake up. In the evening, the sun stops producing blue wavelength light and this makes us feel drowsy.

Tech devices produce a blue wavelength light. When we use them in bed, the blue wavelength light falls right in front of our faces. And the brain stops producing melatonin. That’s why many people across the world are having sleepless nights and poor sleeping patterns.

Rest and recovery are important for every living organism. Poor sleeping patterns affect our behaviour and performance at work. Keep all your devices away after dinner and notice how the quality of your sleep will improve.

4. The tortoise always wins

You might find yourself planning to take big strides to take back control of your life. While it’s great to be ambitious and dream big, you need to take baby steps to kill the addiction. If you take very big steps such as using your phone for only one hour a day, you’ll probably fail.

Realize that it took months or years for this habit to creep in and take control of you. It will probably take some time for you to break the chains. Therefore, be gentle with yourself. Start small.

You can start by turning off your phone and other devices after dinner or leaving your phone at home when taking a walk.

If you push yourself hard, you’ll get tired and frustrated. And you will ultimately give in to your urges. As the popular saying goes, any change is better than no change at all. Be the tortoise. Go slow and you’ll always win.

5. Reward yourself

Taking control of your life does not happen after five months or two years. It happens on a daily basis. If you manage to take control of your life every day, it is important to reward yourself.

If your plan consists of taking ten-minute breaks in the afternoon to put your phone away and go for a walk or journal and you actually do it, reward yourself with a treat such as a cup of tea and cookies.

When you reward yourself, your mind will start associating putting your phone away with pleasantness and it will give you more reasons why you should put it away more often.

As you progress, give yourself bigger rewards. For example, if you manage to put your phone away for a couple of hours in a month, go for a tour. Create your plan in such a way that there is always something for you to enjoy in the end.

Suggested:

Tips to limit your smartphone and break the addiction.

How to cope with Social media addiction?

Conclusion

In the beginning, habits are like cobwebs. After a while, they become chains that take control of someone’s life. It is important to be aware of the habits that might be taking control of you. Awareness is the first step in the process of breaking chains.

The majority of people are not aware of their tech addiction until you take all the toys away from them. If you can’t put your phone or other devices down for a couple of hours, you are probably addicted.

As the popular saying goes, failing to plan is planning to fail.  Start by creating a plan that suits you and your circumstances. Create a simple plan that does not have very high standards. Remember, the habit took some time to creep in. Therefore, it’s going to take some time for you to break the chains.

Follow the plan every day. And reward yourself if you manage to follow it successfully. As you increase your pace, make your reward bigger.

Everything worthwhile in life takes time. Being free and independent in today’s world is a big thing. We have discussed five tips that you can use to break free. Which one(s) will you start using right now?