Improve your habits

10 habits to adopt

1. Evaluate your habits and set usage objectives by downloading an application like Space or by setting up the “screen time” function on devices that offer it.
2. Dare to turn off your devices, whether it’s for a few minutes, a few hours or all day… The perfect occasion to question whether it’s essential to be reachable 24/7! If you unplug, remember to inform those who need to know.
3. Avoid bringing your mobile screens with you everywhere and at all times by sometimes leaving them in another room or putting them away in your bag.
4. Reduce your cell phone usage by only checking your texts, emails, and other messages every hour, then every two hours… to finally get to only a few times a day.
5. Remove the most addictive applications from your home screen so they aren’t visible right away to help reduce their use. You can also simply delete them so you have to access them through a search engine.
6. Avoid getting distracted by screens when you are with other people. If you have to interrupt a conversation to check your device, justify this action to the person in front of you.
7. Ask yourself two questions before checking your cell phone: “Is this really important?” and “Can this wait?” To be more aware of how you use your phone, attach a rubber band or another object to it as a reminder of these questions before you activate it.
8. Take breaks from your screens by sometimes activating “airplane mode” on your cell and by setting alarms on your computer to remind you to unplug at certain times throughout the day.
9. Try not to check several screens at the same time to avoid developing a tolerance to overstimulation and multitasking.
10. Turn off your screens when they are not in use so they don’t become a distraction.

Bonus advice!

Feel like putting your family to the challenge? Download the fun “10 challenges to regain control of screen use” checklist.