7 Ideas How to Have Less Screentime Through the Day

Tijana Tijana

Written by Tijana

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We are all aware of the pros we’re receiving on a daily basis from having access to all kinds of information on the tips of our fingers. However, the cons list seems to be getting bigger and bigger every day. Starting from headaches, due to spending time in front of a screen for most of the day, to mental health issues caused by social media. The depression and anxiety rates among young adults have skyrocketed since social media became a crucial part of everyday life.

Hence, due to both mental and physical health issues, it might be time to discuss possible solutions on how to limit screen time on your devices, and give more attention to physical activities.

Also, check out our video guide on how to reduce your screen time:

How can I lower the amount of time spent in front of a screen?

Don’t worry - you’re not the only one whose screen time has gotten excessively longer over the past couple of years.

According to researchers, the time people spend in front of a screen has gotten extremely worse since 2020, and you guessed the reason - COVID 19.

Therefore, keep reading to find 7 ideas on reducing screen time.

  1. Setting limits on your screen time from your phone settings

One of the best ways to start limiting yourself slowly, is setting limits on your allowed screen time throughout the day. You can do this through Settings on your phone. You can choose to make limits to certain apps - let’s say social media platforms, since those are the most time-consuming. You can also access data about how much time you used to spend on an app on average, so you can start lowering your screen time.

  1. Temporarily disabling your accounts on social media platforms

If you’re one of those people who prefer quitting things cold turkey, try disabling your accounts on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter temporarily. This will give you some time to take a breather from the toxicity of social media, but your account will still be waiting for you as you left it once you decide to go back.

  1. Make changes in the color system of your phone

This is one of the more experimental tactics for reducing screen time. According to researchers, people who changed their phones to be grayscale, instead of color screens, have reported feeling less addicted to having their phone in their hands constantly. You can make this change in your phone settings as well, so why not give it a shot?

  1. Turning off notifications

If you start muting your notifications, you will notice that you won’t feel the need to unlock your phone over 60 times per day. Curiosity about who texted you, or what the notification might be about, only causes you to scroll through other apps as well while you’re at it. Start muting some group chats, whole apps, or even set up personalized Focus Mode if you’re an iPhone user. You will notice the changes in your screen time once you start using these features.

  1. Creating phone-free zones in your home

Try establishing zones where you will forbid yourself to use your phone, or even enter the room with it. One of them could be the bathroom - for many obvious reasons. Try avoiding using your phone in the dining room, or taking your phone with you when you’re going to sleep. It’s been proven that people who scroll through their phones right before sleeping, tend to not get quality rest as they should.

  1. Dedicate a certain amount of time to a new hobby

We all have some hobbies we want to take on, but haven’t “had the time”. Well, limit your screen time - and get to it. If you used to spend 5 hours per day on your phone, limit it to 1 hour and 30 minutes, and take the rest of the time to start a new course, or work on your art that’s been in your drawer for months.

  1. Spend time with friends - face to face

We’ve all gotten used to FaceTiming our best friends, since it's easier to sip a cup of wine in your living room, instead of getting ready for hours. But, we’ve forgotten the joy of human contact. Call your friends, gather with them for some drinks - and practice social distancing. It’s about time to start socializing again.