Are You A Smartphone Addict?

In this era of information, a mobile phone has become an inevitable gadget in most of our lives. However, over usage of the phone may become a problem making the person addicted to the gadget. The early signs of addiction include checking your phone even while engaged in a conversation with someone, charging your phone at all possible times, checking for new messages as soon as you wake up, and getting into sleep with your smartphone in hand. Even at a slight doubt of addiction, look for ways to detach yourself from your smartphone. Some other symptoms of smartphone addiction include anxiety when phone's battery is discharged or phone is lost, increasing screen time and failing to curtail the time spent on phone.

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.

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.