Experts say adults should limit screen time outside of work to less than two hours per day.
This feels impossible. Let’s look at my phone use:
My current weekly screentime average is 2 hours, 25 minutes. Last week, 2h 41m. The week before that, 2h, 28m. The week I had covid? 3h 41m.
In reality, I feel these stats aren’t all that bad. I’m only on my phone about 10% of the day … 15% of my waking hours. Somewhat surprisingly, my no1 time suck is Text Messaging. Email and Instagram rally for 2ND and 3RD place. Then the NYT Crossword. Then it varies—the NYTimes app, my web browser, a cooking app, etc.
What feels impossible about lowering my screen time is that many things I do with my phone can’t be replaced by not using my phone. I text message because who calls anyone anymore? I need to text friends about plans, clients about schedules, and restaurants about reservations. And when those external parties become unresponsive, I’ll stalk them on Instagram, obviously.
What, you want me to receive a physical newspaper? Get ink all over my fingers, feel bad about trees and recycling issues in Chicago? Cut out the crossword and carry it in my pocket with a pencil?! I think not.
To think this doesn’t address other screen time, namely the television.
When I wake up, I pick up my phone to disable the alarm. And then I catch up on morning news (after I check my email and Instagram).
I’m trying to change this behavior. I’ve started turning off my alarm and putting the phone down. I’ve started looking around the room. Letting my eyes focus on the morning light coming in through the blinds, the dog at the foot of the bed, the plant growing in the far corner. This sounds hokey, but I’m hoping it brings calm and maybe drops my screen time stats.