Ways To Reduce Screen Time
As a dad, it can be challenging to step back from your phone and be present with your family. Many of us are looking for ways to reduce our screen time, and it’s more important than ever. Studies show how much kids and family members are affected by our screen usage. Today, my goal is to help you reduce your screen time and give you some tips on how to put the phone away when it matters.
Deleting Unnecessary Apps
One of the first steps to reducing screen time is deleting unnecessary apps from your phone. If you’re on a digital minimalism kick or just interested in cutting down your screen time, this is a common recommendation. However, you can keep some apps as long as they don’t have an endless scrolling feature.
Endless scrolling
Endless scrolling refers to apps like social media, YouTube, and news sites where there’s always more content at the bottom. These apps can consume significant time without you realizing it. Take a moment to review all the apps on your phone and remove those that provide this feature. Even apps like Amazon can be culprits. While you can access them on other devices like your laptop or tablet, removing them from your phone is a good first step.
Games
Games can also be a big distraction. As an avid video game player, I know how tempting it is to see what’s next, but this takes time away from your family. Remove games from your phone, even simple ones like tower defense games.
Streaming Services
Streaming services are another major time sink. As a movie lover, I always want to finish what I started. However, there’s no need to have streaming services on your phone. You can watch those 20 minutes of “Bridgerton” or “The Witcher” later. The only streaming service I keep on my phone is Disney+ for “Bluey,” which can entertain my child when needed.
Managing Notifications
Another effective way to reduce screen time is by managing notifications. While turning off all notifications can be effective, it’s not practical for dads. Essential apps like doorbell cameras, daycare, or school notifications need to stay active.
However, many apps send notifications just to get your attention. Turn off notifications for these non-essential apps. Use a notification summary or schedule a summary at the end of the day for non-essential notifications. Allow notifications for texts, calls, and essential apps, but disable the rest. This will help reduce distractions and keep you focused on your family.
Utilizing Screen Time Features
If you’re using an iPhone, take advantage of the built-in Screen Time app. This app can show you how long you’ve been spending on your phone and help you set limits. The average user spends about 4.5 hours on their phone per day, which adds up to years of your life wasted.
Screen Time allows you to block or limit certain apps throughout the day. For example, I’ve limited Disney+ and YouTube to one hour a day on my phone. While you can still access these apps on other devices, the goal is to reduce your phone usage. Limiting your most-used apps and setting boundaries on when you can be contacted is essential.
I used to have my work email on my phone, but I limited it to one hour a day and one minute on weekends because there’s no reason to check work email on the weekend. Setting boundaries with your employer for work-life balance is important.
Conclusion
I hope these tips help you reduce your screen time and spend more quality time with your family. There are many other apps and tips out there to help you achieve this goal. Not everything I mentioned will work for everyone, but I hope it inspires you to put down your phone more often and be present with your loved ones.
