If you walk down any street, it is practically a guarantee that you’ll see at least 3 people or more talking, texting, or surfing the Internet on their cell phones. Sit in a coffee shop for an hour and you’ll probably see two to three times that amount. People love their cell phones; sometimes so much so that it’s unhealthy. If you are one of those people who uses your phone constantly – to the point that it annoys people around you – you need to break your cell phone addiction.
Step One
Unsubscribe from any and all Facebook SMS updates. People love to hear what their friends are doing throughout the day, but it often causes them to be distracted in environments, like the workplace, where that can lead to big problems. Cut off your SMS updates, or at least limit the hours you receive them to when you have free time, and you’ll be surprised how much more productive you’ll be.
Step Two
Resist the urge to read and answer every text message or email immediately. There are times where you have to concentrate on what you’re doing and you don’t need the distraction of an irrelevant message. Really, they can wait until later when you’re finished the task on hand. It is a hard habit to break, but it’s critical if you want to get over your cell phone addiction.
Step Three
Cell phones have voicemail so that you don’t have to answer each and every call that comes in right away. It’s understandable that you might have to answer your cell phone at a bad time if you get a call from someone who is taking care of a sick family member, or if one of your children calls, but you do not have to be “on-demand” all the time. Outside of suspected emergencies, most calls can wait until later.
Step Four
Limit your minutes. It doesn’t matter if you have a contract plan or a prepaid plan set a limit on the number of minutes you have available per month. Not only will this help you break your addiction, but it will be better for your budget. Of course, in order for this to work, you have to stay within your limits. Resist the urge to get an unlimited minutes plan
Step Five
Turn the phone off during times you shouldn’t be disturbed. I know you may feel like you are cutting yourself off from the world, but sometimes it is essential that you turn the phone off and take a break. Provide your family and friends with an alternate contact number in case of an emergency and you can relax a little knowing that you won’t miss any truly important calls.
To some people it sounds silly, but there really are people who let their cell phones run their lives. If you fall into that category, it really is a simple addiction to break. You just have to set reasonable limits on your cell phone use and stick to them.
About the Author: Deloris Cherubini loves watching trends in cell phone technology. She’s a tech writer who enjoys comparing phones, writing about what to do if your Android is lost or stolen, and how to change cell phone plans.
