purple ram

Screen tame

In my efforts to limit my screen time and avoid phone addiction, I have tried ‘hacks’ which I found helpful and wanted to share. So if you’re someone struggling, consider some of the ideas below.

Two phones

I divide my tasks between two phones, one for essentials and the other, a ‘fun’ phone.

Primary

Secondary

Needless to say, you don’t need the latest phones to accomplish this. I use an iPhone 12 as my primary and a Tecno midrange phone as the fun phone.

Utilize the browser

If you want to lessen your time on social media, uninstall the apps and just use your phone’s browser. This effectively increases the friction in logging in and scrolling through the web versions of these apps are very unappealing.

Turn off notifications

This is my default mode for as long as I can remember. I have all my notifications, except for calls and messages, turned off. No sounds, no banners, no badges. No distractions. The absence of pings and buzzes made me more focused and less anxious.

Monitor screen time

I use the Screen Zen app to monitor screen time.

With it, I can:

Everytime I reach the limit for an app, a countdown pops up, displaying the words ‘Is This Important?’ (editable).

It still boils down to discipline, but in my case, the Screen Zen app helps. The countdown and pop up message really make me think, so I usually don’t continue after just one session with the app.

Touch some grass

Find a new hobby. Or rediscover an old one. Just imagine what you were doing during the No-Internet days.

As for me, I was mostly bonding with my guitar. Books were also my go-to. If you consider walking a hobby, that’s also a good one. I love taking walks without my phone or earphones on. And it helps pass the time and clear your mind.

Of course, none of these strategies matter if you miss the first step—you have to know the reason WHY you want to reduce your phone usage. It’s cliche but it’s important.

Here are some reasons to consider:

I get it—phones are addictive. But these little tweaks can make a big difference, helping you regain control of your life.

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