Too Much of a Good Thing: Are You Addicted to Your Smartphone?

One has to manage his/her phone time consciously to avoid getting addicted to the gadget. Being disciplined on phone time, a compulsive weaning time away from the gadget, proper work-life balance, ignore the compulsive feel to look for frequent updates/messages/emails are a few of the measures that one can take to decrease their dependability on a smartphone. Also, texting while driving is to be avoided as it is dangerous to self and others. Just in a matter of a few days, self-discipline will help in smartphone-detox.

Yes, addiction to a smartphone is called nomophobia. Literally, it translates to a phobia of staying without mobile. However, this is considered more of a disorder than a phobia. This disorder is becoming increasingly high around the planet as the users of the smartphone is increasing every day. Like any other compulsive disorder, this too has devastating effects on the quality of life of the person. Limiting the usage of smartphone and using it only when necessary will ensure the person does not get addicted.

Addiction to anything is harmful, and Smartphone addiction is no different. In fact, the disruptions and distractions it causes in your everyday life are aplenty. Addiction to this gadget decreases the quality of your time to your loved ones, reduces your sense of belonging to your environment, and hugely interrupt your productivity. The work-life balance is often not established, and even relationships take a toll because of the overuse of mobile phone. Discourage yourself to using the phone unless there is a real need for answering a call or making a call.

Smartphone, being handy, travels with us wherever we go. Even after working hours people check their work emails. Even after reading a newspaper we check for news updates. We eagerly listen and watch audios and videos received and are constantly in touch with some information on hand. With our desire to know things we constantly update ourselves with information. However, in this process, we lose our ability to concentrate and hence lose our productivity. Making a no-phone-time a habit will increase your concentration, productivity, and eventually, your quality of life.