Overcoming mobile and internet addiction

The rapid advancement in technology has its advantages as well as its downsides. Work and life get easier by the day with the ceaseless innovations in technology, access to the internet, and the use of smart gadgets including our smartphones. You can get almost everything done on your phone but we need to watch it.

Internet and smartphone abuse is on the rise and causing more harm than good these days. Cases of Psychological dysfunctions such as insomnia, depression, loneliness, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies can be traced to internet addiction. Getting focused on one's job almost seems impossible especially if you are on a remote job. We are almost getting to a point where relationships are hard to keep up with because people now have deeper connections and attachments to their phones thereby depriving their loved ones of their attention. There have been cases of absent-mindedness leading to accidents and all forms of domestic and social hazards.

Internet addiction is almost similar to drug addiction, and it has both physical and psychological effects on its victims that if care is not taken could result in bigger societal and relational issues. The fact is that we are all not far from being addicted to our smartphones because apart from social media, we depend on our phones to solve problems on daily basis, that level of dependency makes us prone to getting addicted except we watch it

We all need a level of control over our lives and one of the ways to achieve that is to consciously manage our space.
Having a smartphone and unlimited access to the internet could be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on how well we manage it. We need to regain self-consciousness and put parameters in place to be in control. Think of it this way, 'I need to get my control back and take charge of my life ' lol.

There are deeper issues of identity crisis resulting from mobile and internet addiction, but for this read, we will just keep it at the surface level. We will be sharing a few steps to help manage your life, stay in control of your mental space and apply preventive measures to avoid being invaded by everything on the internet.

Here are a few tips to manage your mobile addiction:

1. Learn to put your phone away - Avoiding physical or eye contact with your phone is a good way to start. Find a place in your house or workspace that is not easily accessible to always keep your phone. Not having a quick reach to your phone will help you pay attention to other important things and stay focused on work. Choose a place where you will need to think twice before getting up to pick your phone.

2. Manage apps and turn off notifications - You may need to delete unnecessary and distracting applications from your phone. Keep only what is relevant to your work and life and get rid of the garbage. Turn off pop-up notifications, You can check for information at your own convenient time. With this, you are taking control of your space.

3. set time for phone usage - Set out a time of the day to check your phone and reply to all messages. Except for cases of emergency, every other person can wait. When you are disciplined enough to set these boundaries, everyone in your corner will get to know you for it and respect your boundaries.

4. Resist the urge to pick up your phone - Starting out may be hard especially if you have been addicted over time. But with determination and consistency, it's achievable. Replace the time you spend on frivolous activities on your phone with another activity that will drive productivity and resist the urge to go back to frivolities.

5. Exit all unnecessary social media groups - Leave all groups that are contributing to your pettiness and frivolities, Delete the contacts that are not adding value to your life and existence. Sift out toxic relationships from your inner circle. Keep only relevant associations.

The internet and our mobile devices are meant to enhance our lives and not ruin us. But we have a responsibility to ensure it's doing us good. Take deliberate steps to manage your space and prevent addictions. Let the urge for productivity be your drive at all times. Take charge of your life.