How I overcame my addiction to my smartphone

Smartphones are one of the greatest inventions of mankind. They have a large impact on our society. Smartphones enable billions of people to connect across the globe. The majority of the world population, especially youths, are using smartphones. They spend nearly all their waking hours staring at their phone screens and this excessive use has become an increasing concern in our society. More people are beginning to indulge in unhealthy lifestyles. I admit that I’m one of these people. I can cut down on TV and computer but sadly, I’m unable to cut down on my phone usage. I’m glued to my phone.


Since I started using smart phone, my physical activities were limited as I was constantly texting, playing games and watching movies on my phone. Besides that, I preferred to stay out from social gatherings. I tend to avoid talking to people face-to-face and relied on text messages as a way of communication.


My friends and I are active members on social media platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. I love browsing through photos on social media during my free time. However, I start to develop a bad habit of comparing myself to others. I spend most of my time idolizing others and envying their perfect looks and gorgeous outfits. I often sleep late at night as I’m busy scrolling through Hollywood celebrities profiles who appear to lead perfect fairytale lives. As a result, I always ended up sleepy the next day. One day, I began to realise the seriousness of my situation and made a firm resolution to spend less time on my cell phone.  
I try to incorporate several positive changes into my daily activities. One of the changes includes replacing real objects with smart phone features. For instance, I invest in a new planner to write my to-do lists, club meetings and dental appointments instead of relying on my phone planner app. Moreover, I use an alarm clock as a wake-up call in order to prevent myself from checking my cell phone the first thing in the morning.


I also try to limit my phone usage by installing an app called Forest. The app is really helpful in boosting and improving my productivity. I get to work on my assignment and on the same time watch my tree grow bigger every day. Recently, I rediscovered my passion for reading and now spend an hour before bedtime reading my favourite classic books. I find that reading books are far more interesting than reading online stories. I get to experience the sense of fulfilment and enjoyment once I finish reading the entire book. Reading books has also improved my sleep as my mind is always calm before I go to bed.


Spending less time on my smartphone enables me to lead a more active lifestyle. I start to work out in the gym after school. On weekends, I will take my dog out for a stroll at a nearby park. Being outdoors and close to Mother Nature creates a sense of gratitude in my well-being. I begin to appreciate the little things in my life. I feel grateful for being able to enjoy the sunlight when I jog outdoors. Moreover, I feel happy for being who am I. I realise that no one is perfect in this world and that I shouldn’t compare myself to others. Everyone has his or her own strengths and weaknesses.
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Overall, I experience a tremendous positive change in my life after I overcome my addiction to smartphone. I’m now a happier and healthier person than before. I realise that we can gain many benefits when we spend less time on our phones. Smartphones present both advantages and disadvantages. We should utilize our smartphones wisely if we want to enjoy the many benefits they offer.

Daniella