Have you ever wondered how much time you actually spend using your phone each day? Research is being done all the time on how much we use our phones and how it is affecting us. This fascinating 2017 article from Hackernoon breaks down the different research that has been done on phone usage in America. On average, we spend 4 hours a day on our phones. 4 hours! What could you be doing with that time instead?
The best way to monitor your phone usage is to first track it. There are several app trackers available that can help you do this. Download one and use your phone as you normally would for one week (if you can stomach how much time you are using it when you find out.) Once you know how often you are checking your phone and which apps you are using the most, you can start to evaluate usage.
How does your phone usage affect your productivity?
Using your phone is so easy to justify. You can say that you are just checking a quick work email or that you have to be close to your phone in case you get an important call. In some cases, this is true. For most of us, though, this mentality just shows how dependent we are on our phones and how much time we spend on them. How can you cut down on your phone usage to be productive?
Your phone is a tool, use it properly. Harness your power so that you can get the most out of your time. You’ll find you have more time during the day than you thought!