My Screen Time Anti-Addiction Plan

An easy 5 step plan to transition out of the virtual world we’ve been living in

Confession: I’m totally, 1000% addicted to one thing in life that may seem innocent but actually has serious consequences. My phone… OK, since this is a confession I’m going to be totally honest. This addiction really extends to ALL screens.

And with a world that is still in the process of transitioning back to “normal” I find myself spending far too much time on social media, in zooms, and on online courses. I’ve dug myself into this hole where I can’t possibly just BE. Ever! If my kid walks into the next room to grab a story to read, I’ll fill that 5 second space with TikTok or Instagram. And then I feel irritated because I was disturbed while watching something totally and completely meaningless (I’m really not proud of that confession).

Spending too much time in front of screens has also been linked to serious psychological side effects including increased anxiety and depression, irritation, frustration, impatience, lack of sleep, and low self-esteem.  No thank you! 

As a work from home solopreneur, I’ve justified this addiction by claiming that I need to spend time in front of screens in order to build my business. But deep down I know that I spend far too much time getting sucked into consuming mindless content during this meaningful pursuit.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to set my excuses aside and come up with a plan. Can I simply hop on a boat and toss my phone into the ocean like the old lady did to the Heart of the Ocean in the Titanic? As an entrepreneur in today’s world, the answer is sadly, “no.” But, I CAN come up with ways to limit the amount of time I spend on screens and therefore claim back the real life time I’ve lost! Who’s with me? 

Here are the 5 steps I’m planning to take in order to vastly reduce my everyday screen time:

Plan my screen time on paper in advance.

Setting aside the time that I’ll need to be on screens for things like checking emails, social media marketing, and attending meetings and online trainings will eliminate my desire to use work as an excuse. But also scheduling guilt free downtime where I can enjoy things like Netflix will help me feel more in control. 

Put away my phone when I'm visiting someone in person.

I’m definitely guilty of setting my phone next to me while chatting with a friend at lunch, and I’m SUPER not proud of it. Besides the fact that having my phone in plain sight will trigger my desire to check the status of my latest post, it’s rude. Period. And it keeps me from being fully present and able to enjoy time with the people who matter most to me.

Turn off notifications.

Not ALL notifications… but most. If I have time set aside to respond to emails and interact on social media, then there is no reason why I need to receive notifications for those apps. 

Find an engaging substitution.

For me, it’s books. If I have a book I’m really into, I hardly even glance at my phone! Plus, there is nothing quite like the feel of an actual book in my hands. For others it might be something like adult coloring books, building, or baking. As long as it’s something to do instead of mindless scrolling, it’s a win. 

Live in the moment instead of experiencing it through the screen of my phone.

I feel passionate about making sure that I get out in nature more! The easiest way I’ve found to accomplish this is by planning my social media content in advance. That way I only spend a day or two each month writing content, taking pictures/videos, and scheduling everything out. Then I can get right back to living in the real world instead of the REEL world. Cheesy puns aside, without this step, I spend hours per DAY maintaining my social media marketing campaigns. Yikes!!

You might be wondering...

“What made you decide to take your screen time addiction more seriously?” 

The answer: My family. As a mom, I try my best to be a good example for my kids, and I see them following along this same destructive path, especially since the Covid lock downs. Also, since I run my businesses out of my home, the time I get with my family needs to be 100% dedicated to them. If I’m asking them to patiently wait while I finish up work, they should be rewarded with my full attention after I’m done. It’s that simple.

If you want to claim back your real life time with your family and friends, or you’d like to find more time to do the things that will take your business to the next level, let’s chat! You can set up a brainstorming session with me by clicking here and we’ll get started creating a photo shoot plan for your social media marketing!