I also love this topic — as a new mom, it’s on my mind every day. I’m always eager to learn more about the healthiest way to share and to limit tech with children such that they’re both safe and also free to be kids. Thank you!
Hi Miriam, I hope I gave you some inspiration. Balance is the key, although being young sometimes they don't know yet how to do it, hell, even adults are still struggling with it.
We just need to stay vigilant, not only for them but also for ourselves.
I've done all those things for "change your environment" - I found it incredibly helpful.
Something that we do in our family is that we don't allow their smart phones in their rooms (they need a break, kids message other kids at 12am, 2am in the morning. Teenagers and lack of sleep is not a good mix.)
Our kids didn't grow up with smart phones, they came when our youngest was towards the end of primary school. I got the "everyone has an iPhone" around that time. As hard as it was then, it's harder now. I feel for parents coming up behind me, but I'm also grateful that there is more and more done to protect the kids and their social media and phone usage.
Thanks Mika. After a disasterous school week last week, we trial out a no phone policy at home starting this week. The kids need to check in their phone when they got home from school, and it will be given back in the morning. We will see how it goes :)
Good luck. Back in the day, we did "screen free" weeks for the kids and I (including emails for me!) I found that I was the one wanting them on the screens for a break! 😆
It was a little tricky at the start of the week, but by the end they were playing better with each other and were in better moods.
I don't scroll, but I do use sleep hypnosis meditations, or sleep storytelling, or crystal bowls sound baths to help me fall asleep. I start the video, adjust the sound, and turn it upside down on the table next to my bed so I can't see the light. Only certain ones don't have adds at the end. Those that are marked for sleep and for meditation. As far as my phone in the morning. I use it for picture taking if the sunrise is beautiful, but I don't even bother with it, till maybe mid morning.
Hi Chris, this article is gold. I must say, turning notifications OFF was a game-changer for me.
I readily acknowledge that I have addictive tendencies towards my phone, and really anything that gives me a hit of dopamine! That being said, I make a deliberate effort to eliminate these dopamine-triggering addictive behaviors.
One such behavior is using my cell phone. Smartphones are inherently addictive. Since I’ve acquired one, which I resisted for a long time, I have noticed markedly different behavioral tendencies. I didn’t like what I saw, so I took steps to change it.
One of the first steps I took was turning off notifications, because these little banner blurbs are almost impossible to ignore! I was fed up. So I shut them all off. I haven’t regretted it since. When I choose to check my notifications, I simply open the app. It’s that easy.
Thank you for sharing your experience. Indeed the first step towards healing is first recognising that we do have the problem. You and I did that. I'm hoping that many people would do the same. The tech supposed to be helping us, to make us better in the things we do. But these days they become an object of unhealthy obsession.
I love these tips! The not checking first thing has been transformational. I started by trying to not check until after breakfast, now I'll go longer in order to keep my streak going. Sometimes I won't even unlock my phone until noon. Keeping it in another room has worked wonders for my focus. I check in with my screen time and monitor pickups as well. It's hard, but important!
My parents only gave me a smartphone with internet access when I was 13. I was mad back then, but in retrospect I see what a great decision it was.
And yes, removing distracting apps from the home screen absolutely works! I did this with my most annoying apps recently, and now I can even forget about them for a long time. Sometimes I also don't open them simply because making extra clicks doesn't seem like a justifiable effort 😂 Oh the human laziness.
Great article. I'm on call every other consecutive 2 weeks where I work so I have to keep my phone on and buzzin'. I only use LinkedIn, Spotify, Audible, and Substack. I'll add ChatGPT. Thanks
I aslo wanted to point out there is this book from an ADHD psychiatrist called Driven to Distraction at Work from Ed Hollowel. I borrowed it from the library thinking it was about ADHD since I got ADHD. But the one I should had checked out was Driven to Distraction, withou the "at Work". I'm glad I read it because the "at work" one was written for ADS "Attention Deficit Syndrome" which is ADHD like, but is a result from being on your smart devices all the time. And unlike ADHD it can be resolved with stop using tech as much. It has a lot of good tips and solutions. BTW I don't see ADHD as a deficiency, but from a strengths base just different wiring that doesn't quiet conform to the established norm.
I like this topic I was spending so much on my phone to escape my reality and procrastinated on my projet. Now I turn off my notifications or my phone to focus. I start to live in présent moment
I also love this topic — as a new mom, it’s on my mind every day. I’m always eager to learn more about the healthiest way to share and to limit tech with children such that they’re both safe and also free to be kids. Thank you!
Hi Miriam, I hope I gave you some inspiration. Balance is the key, although being young sometimes they don't know yet how to do it, hell, even adults are still struggling with it.
We just need to stay vigilant, not only for them but also for ourselves.
Hi Miriam. I'm a mom too. Baby and toddler. Feel you.
Unfortunately, my baby has more screen time than my toddler because she has to work with me in the evenings for my newsletter and online business.
She often looks on the screen :) little creator baby.
You have an impressive bio, Miriam!
All the best for you and your newborn, hugs!
I love this topic! Thanks for the thorough tips!
I've done all those things for "change your environment" - I found it incredibly helpful.
Something that we do in our family is that we don't allow their smart phones in their rooms (they need a break, kids message other kids at 12am, 2am in the morning. Teenagers and lack of sleep is not a good mix.)
Our kids didn't grow up with smart phones, they came when our youngest was towards the end of primary school. I got the "everyone has an iPhone" around that time. As hard as it was then, it's harder now. I feel for parents coming up behind me, but I'm also grateful that there is more and more done to protect the kids and their social media and phone usage.
Thanks Mika. After a disasterous school week last week, we trial out a no phone policy at home starting this week. The kids need to check in their phone when they got home from school, and it will be given back in the morning. We will see how it goes :)
Good luck. Back in the day, we did "screen free" weeks for the kids and I (including emails for me!) I found that I was the one wanting them on the screens for a break! 😆
It was a little tricky at the start of the week, but by the end they were playing better with each other and were in better moods.
LOL. That might happen too. We will see 😊
💯 agree. Turning notifications off was a game changer for me. Thank you for this post Chris!
I don't scroll, but I do use sleep hypnosis meditations, or sleep storytelling, or crystal bowls sound baths to help me fall asleep. I start the video, adjust the sound, and turn it upside down on the table next to my bed so I can't see the light. Only certain ones don't have adds at the end. Those that are marked for sleep and for meditation. As far as my phone in the morning. I use it for picture taking if the sunrise is beautiful, but I don't even bother with it, till maybe mid morning.
That is one interesting way to fall asleep. How long have you been doing it? Does it help?
Hi Chris, this article is gold. I must say, turning notifications OFF was a game-changer for me.
I readily acknowledge that I have addictive tendencies towards my phone, and really anything that gives me a hit of dopamine! That being said, I make a deliberate effort to eliminate these dopamine-triggering addictive behaviors.
One such behavior is using my cell phone. Smartphones are inherently addictive. Since I’ve acquired one, which I resisted for a long time, I have noticed markedly different behavioral tendencies. I didn’t like what I saw, so I took steps to change it.
One of the first steps I took was turning off notifications, because these little banner blurbs are almost impossible to ignore! I was fed up. So I shut them all off. I haven’t regretted it since. When I choose to check my notifications, I simply open the app. It’s that easy.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing your experience. Indeed the first step towards healing is first recognising that we do have the problem. You and I did that. I'm hoping that many people would do the same. The tech supposed to be helping us, to make us better in the things we do. But these days they become an object of unhealthy obsession.
I love these tips! The not checking first thing has been transformational. I started by trying to not check until after breakfast, now I'll go longer in order to keep my streak going. Sometimes I won't even unlock my phone until noon. Keeping it in another room has worked wonders for my focus. I check in with my screen time and monitor pickups as well. It's hard, but important!
Wow I admire your conviction. I don't think I can go half a day without looking at my phone yet. But it's challenge I'm willing to take :)
I started by doing exactly what you're doing. Setting those small challenges at 10 - 15 minutes are a brilliant start!
My parents only gave me a smartphone with internet access when I was 13. I was mad back then, but in retrospect I see what a great decision it was.
And yes, removing distracting apps from the home screen absolutely works! I did this with my most annoying apps recently, and now I can even forget about them for a long time. Sometimes I also don't open them simply because making extra clicks doesn't seem like a justifiable effort 😂 Oh the human laziness.
That's a great testemony Diana! I'm glad that the trick works for you :)
Great article. I'm on call every other consecutive 2 weeks where I work so I have to keep my phone on and buzzin'. I only use LinkedIn, Spotify, Audible, and Substack. I'll add ChatGPT. Thanks
Glad I could help 👍🏽
I aslo wanted to point out there is this book from an ADHD psychiatrist called Driven to Distraction at Work from Ed Hollowel. I borrowed it from the library thinking it was about ADHD since I got ADHD. But the one I should had checked out was Driven to Distraction, withou the "at Work". I'm glad I read it because the "at work" one was written for ADS "Attention Deficit Syndrome" which is ADHD like, but is a result from being on your smart devices all the time. And unlike ADHD it can be resolved with stop using tech as much. It has a lot of good tips and solutions. BTW I don't see ADHD as a deficiency, but from a strengths base just different wiring that doesn't quiet conform to the established norm.
I like this topic I was spending so much on my phone to escape my reality and procrastinated on my projet. Now I turn off my notifications or my phone to focus. I start to live in présent moment
The day I deleted the most addicted apps off my phone, is the day my phone started to be very lonely. Some times I dont even know where it is 🤣