Phones have become an important part of our daily lives. They’re not just a device for calling or texting any more, we use them for everything from entertainment to shopping and so much more. 

Your phone can even help you manage your health by keeping track of your activity, your eating and more. But on the downside, some phone habits can actually be damaging to your health, especially your mental health.

So how can you improve your phone habits for better health and wellbeing? Here are some suggestions.

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Reduce your phone use before bed

Using your phone before bed can have a negative impact on your sleep. This is not only due to the light emitted from your phone, but also from the effects of doing something active like scrolling social media or texting. If you find that you struggle to fall asleep or enjoy quality sleep at night, then your phone could be the problem.

Try putting your phone down for the night at least an hour before sleep. Try something like reading a book or doing some meditation to help you wind down for sleep instead. If it helps, you can leave your phone in a different room or at the other end of the room to stop it from becoming a distraction.

Rearrange your phone apps to limit distractions

Every notification is another excuse to check your phone, so why not try getting rid of some of your notifications? Turning off notifications unless they’re for something important, can limit the temptation to check your phone every time it flashes or buzzes.

Another way you can reduce distractions is to move your most distracting apps off your home screen. Make your social media apps harder to find so that when you go to use your phone, you won’t be as tempted to spend time on the rest of your apps. 

Lower the volume

If you use your phone to listen to music or watch video, you should pay attention to the volume you listen at, especially when using earphones. Listening to audio at high volumes can lead to hearing loss, and if you’re concerned about the quality of your hearing, you should book an appointment with an audiologist to test your hearing. Lower the volume and take breaks from your earphones to help protect your hearing.

Actively try to limit your phone use

Phone manufacturers have features in place that can help you limit your phone use. By monitoring your regular use, you can put controls in place to help you use it less. For example, you can set a time limit for how long you can use your phone or certain apps, helping to bring your usage down. There are a lot of great tips for limiting your phone use that could help you see a significant reduction in your screen time. 

Saying goodbye to bad phone habits can have a lot of benefits. It could improve your mood, and your concentration, and even be a way of reducing stress. Set yourself a challenge to change how you use your phone and see the difference it can make to your wellbeing.