At this week’s Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple will introduce a new Digital Health Initiative “to help users monitor how much time they spend on their devices and inside of certain applications."
Google recently added a new app timer to set limits on specific apps and "shush" feature that puts your phone in Do Not Disturb mode when your phone is face down.Studies have shown that spending too much time on your phone is bad for you. Licensed professional counselor and founder of The Brain Performance Center Leigh Richardson says technology is such a big part of our lives.
“I do my banking, I look at my e-vites, my work schedule’s there, I can text my kids. It has evolved to such an important part of our lives that we need to stop and say ‘whoa, how much am I using my phone?,” said Richardson.
She said cell phone addiction is a huge issue.
“People that demonstrate addictive behavior toward the Internet and the cell phone, they score a lot higher on depression and anxiety,” said Richardson.
Anticipating what text, alert or notification you’ll see when you pick up your phone releases Dopamine to the brain which make us feel good.
A study by analytics firm Flurry showed U.S. consumers spend five hours a day on their phones. About 77 percent of U.S. adults own a smartphone, according to Pew.
Tips:
· Vow to not use certain apps at work
· Ween yourself off the phone. Don’t check it for 15 minutes and build up to 30, 45 and eventually an hour
· Turn off push notifications
· Don’t let your electronic device be the first thing you see in the morning and last thing at night