Here’s a New Year’s resolution for you: Use your phone less in 2018

In my short adult life, I’ve never been so glued to my phone as I was this year. Maybe it’s my job, my new phone, or all these new apps, but I definitely miss those mornings where I’ll spend the first hour cooking a nice breakfast and preparing my lunch instead of lifelessly scrolling through my social media feed.

If there’s anything that I need to add in my New Year’s resolutions list (I’m keeping the same ones anyway), it’s to use my phone less in 2018. It sounds like a Sisyphean feat but it’s actually doable—all while keeping my sanity intact.

Ditch Facebook

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According to the Digital Global Overview by We Are Social and Hootsuite, Filipinos spent an average of five hours daily on social media in 2016, with Facebook as the most used app. I’m glad I don’t open the site as much as before, and I only use it for work now and if there are really interesting stories worth sharing.

Now if you’re one of those people who can’t seem to get off Facebook (and deactivating it doesn’t help), there’s a website called 99 Days of Freedom that can help kick off your addiction.

Stop smartphone codependence

What I mean by this is if you can trade some of your smartphone features for real objects, the easier for you to stop relying on your phone all the time. Instead of using an app to keep track of your to-do lists and grocery lists, revert to the good ole pen and paper and get writing. And instead of using your phone as an alarm clock, do yourself a favor and buy a real alarm clock (and make sure to place it far from your bed so you won’t hit the snooze button all the time).

Put your phone down at least 30 minutes before you sleep

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Aside from dark circles, using your phone in bed until the wee hours of the morning will only leave you feeling stressed and lethargic the morning after. You’ll need a stronger willpower for this one, but as much as possible, put your phone down at least 30 minutes before you sleep. This way, you’ll be preparing your mind and body for a good night’s sleep. You can drink a glass of warm milk to help you fall asleep faster.

Photos courtesy of Unsplash